8 South Koreans Arrested in Anunas and Pampang, Angeles — Accused of Operating Criminal Profit Transfer Accounts, Deportation Proceedings Underway

📌 From the night of August 12 to the early hours of August 13, 8 South Koreans were arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in two locations in Angeles City: Anunas and Pampang.
They are accused of running an "online operation" to transfer overseas criminal proceeds, lending out their bank accounts (violating the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act), and violating immigration laws. The Bureau of Immigration intends to initiate deportation proceedings.

■ Case Overview
· Night of August 12 (Wed) to early hours of August 13 (Thu), 2 Bureau of Immigration Mission Orders were executed across two locations in Anunas and Pampang
· Led by the Bureau of Immigration, with support from the CIDG Regional Special Operations Team, Angeles Field Unit, and the Angeles City Police Office (ACPO)
· An operation conducted in coordination with the Korean National Police Agency and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office

■ Charges
· Violation of Philippine Immigration Law + Republic Act No. 12010, the "Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act"
· Accused of operating an online workspace used to transfer proceeds from crimes committed abroad
· According to information from Korean authorities, personal bank accounts managed by these individuals were likely used for illicit fund transfers
· 1 of the 8 individuals was a primary target wanted in South Korea for opening and operating an illegal gambling den, while the remaining 7 were arrested together at the scene

■ Current Status
· All 8 individuals are detained at the CIDG Angeles Field Unit
· The Bureau of Immigration plans to initiate deportation proceedings and is considering criminal charges depending on the investigation results

■ Notice for Expats and Travelers
· Jobs offering money "just for lending your bank account" or "just making transfers in front of a PC" are forms of complicity in money laundering. Even in the Philippines, lending or borrowing bank accounts is itself a punishable offense.
· Working on a tourist visa or overstaying your visa can lead to you being classified as an "Undesirable" alien, resulting in deportation and a ban on entry, even if there are no other charges.
· Individuals wanted in South Korea are tracked down through cooperation between the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and the Korean Police.

■ Sources
SunStar (8/13), RMN (8/13), Pilipino Star Ngayon·Philstar (8/15)

■ Photos
· Photos of the 8 arrested individuals released by the Bureau of Immigration (faces and names obscured). Signs read "Violation of the Korean Game Industry Promotion Act," "Illegal Stay," and "Violation of RA 12010 Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act" — RMN
· Map showing the locations of the raids in Anunas and Pampang, Angeles — SunStar