20s Korean Female Fugitive Arrested in General Trias, Cavite — Wanted for 5 Trillion Won Illegal Gambling Site Syndicate

📌 On the afternoon of August 7, a 29-year-old Korean woman was arrested by the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit (BI-FSU) in a residential area of General Trias, Cavite.
She was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for allegedly being part of an illegal online gambling site syndicate in South Korea involving approximately 5.33 trillion won, and is currently detained at the BI warden facility awaiting deportation.

■ Details of the Incident
· Arrested on the afternoon of Friday, August 7, in a residential area along Governor Ferrer Drive, Barangay Buenavista I, General Trias
· The Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP-IG) requested assistance in locating her, and the Bureau of Immigration coordinated with South Korean authorities to make the arrest
· The Bureau of Immigration announced the arrest 16 days later on August 23

■ Charges
· The Incheon District Court issued an arrest warrant for charges of opening a gambling place on April 22, 2025, followed by an Interpol Red Notice in June 2025
· Accused of serving as the "deputy head of the support team" and managing multiple operational departments for a syndicate that operated 23 illegal online gambling sites from offices in Pasay and Quezon City starting in November 2018
· The illegal proceeds generated by the syndicate through sports betting and other activities are estimated at approximately 5.33 trillion won (about $3.9 billion)
· Entered the Philippines as a tourist in 2025 and was staying illegally with an expired visa

■ Current Status
· Detained at the BI Warden Facility, undergoing deportation proceedings
· Upon repatriation to South Korea, she will face investigation pursuant to the Incheon District Court warrant

■ Notice for Expats and Travelers
· Working in an "office" for illegal gambling sites targeting Koreans in the Philippines can lead to being wanted as an accomplice in South Korea, regardless of how low the position is.
· Individuals wanted in South Korea are tracked down by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration and police in cooperation with South Korean authorities, and those with expired visas are subject to immediate detention and deportation.
· If someone offers you a "high-paying job in a Philippine office," make sure to verify the nature of the work first.

■ Sources
Bureau of Immigration Announcement (8/23), Daily Tribune (8/23), Philstar (8/24), OCCRP (8/24)