Philippine authorities have arrested five blacklisted Chinese nationals, all linked to the Lucky South 99 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) raided in mid-2024.
The five suspects were arrested during a joint operation by the Bureau of Immigration Intelligence Division and the Fugitive Search Unit.
Two of those arrested were wanted in China, while all five have ties to Lucky South 99.
The blacklisted nationals were apprehended at Zamboanga International Airport on Saturday, while attempting to flee via Tawi-Tawi to Sabah, Malaysia.
Due to a boat engine failure nearby Tawi-Tawi, the five were intercepted by officials in Mindanao and transported to Zamboanga City for their arrest.
They’re now being held by the Philippine National Police, awaiting deportation.
Speaking of the arrest, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Vidal stated it “highlights the importance of collaboration with intelligence agencies to prevent fugitives from exploiting our borders”.
The raid on Lucky South 99 was conducted before the total ban on legal POGO operations in the country – which commenced January 1st, 2025.
The nation’s president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that a POGO ban would be introduced just one month later, during his State of the Nation Address (SONA), on July 22nd, 2024. He then signed Executive Order 74 in November, formalizing the complete ban.
