Philippine authorities have arrested 244 foreign workers, mostly Chinese nationals, in the country’s largest crackdown this year on illegal online gaming operators, the immigration bureau said.
The arrests followed raids on two sites in Mindanao on Friday, where authorities also seized large quantities of computers, mobile phones, laptops and SIM cards.
At one site, 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and a Hong Kong resident were arrested, according to the bureau. A further 131 foreigners were detained at the second site, including nationals from China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar.
The government is investigating possible human trafficking-related offences involving some of those arrested, while others are expected to be deported.
The crackdown targets Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs, which Manila banned in 2024 over concerns that they were being used as fronts for organised crime, including human trafficking, money laundering, online fraud, kidnapping and murder.
The immigration bureau described the raids as the largest POGO bust of 2026. Immigration chief Joel Viado said authorities would continue enforcing immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay.
Agence France-Presse reported that the Chinese embassy in Manila had not immediately responded to a request for comment.
