Crypto News
| Published On Jan 23, 2023 9:23 am CET | By Peter Siu

Philippines Immigration Officers Find ‘Crypto Trafficking Ring’

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The Philippine Bureau of Immigration’s (BI) travel control and enforcement unit (TCEU) stated that it had rescued six victims of a “cryptocurrency trafficking ring,” according to reports by local Philippine news media.

According to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Garcera Tansingco, the accused victims were apprehended by BI agents as they were preparing to board a flight to Phnom Penh on January 15. Noting that these passengers possessed fraudulent return tickets, the commissioner stated that they offered conflicting replies to BI officers’ questioning, raising suspicions that they were just masquerading as tourists with the intent of working overseas.

Ann Camille Mina, the interim head of TCEU, stated that they acknowledged to working at a call center in Cambodia after being recruited over Facebook.

Tansingco has promised to take action against any BI employees who are associated with cryptocurrency trafficking syndicates. He stated that the immigration officer who approved the travelers for departure had been removed of her responsibilities awaiting the conclusion of an inquiry. According to the commissioner:

“We want to also help locate and arrest those illegal recruiters that entice employees to take part in their illegal scheme … They are the root of this societal problem and they must also be arrested for this crime.”

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According to BI spokesman Dana Sandoval, the Bureau of Immigration is now examining at least three individuals of interest in the case. She expressed concern about whether this cyber trafficking case is linked to human trafficking syndicates in Cambodia and Myanmar.
Crypto criminal syndicates have been hiring naive victims to work in call centers, notably in Asian nations, as well as to swindle individuals on social media and dating applications. “Pig butchering,” a form of crypto fraud, is one of the most popular activities for trafficking victims and dangerously advancing.
Peter Siu

Peter is a former poker-pro, turned crypto enthusiast with 8+ years’ experience in operational roles dealing with all online gaming verticals within large iGaming companies, including Flutter and Entain. Now an expert in the field of Sports Betting, Casino, iGaming, and Poker, he is our team leader and editor. When not working, Peter can be found in the gym or playing sports like football, tennis and more recently padel.

Tags: Philippines