At least 60 people were arrested earlier this week when Philippine law enforcement agencies busted an illicit, Chinese-run online gambling operation. The dramatic raid is just the latest salvo in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ongoing war on the online gambling industry.
Representatives of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) charged through the doors at the offices of Haoying Solutions Inc. in the Multinational Bancoporation Center on Ayala Avenue in Salcedo Village, Barangay Bel-Air arrested at least 60 individuals, including 50 Chinese nationals. All of the Chinese arrested in the raid are believed to have been residing in the Philippines illegally.
Zhang Hai Long, general manager of company presented police with a certificate that authorized him to work in gaming support, but not to run an actual online casino.
Long’s claims of legitimacy were, however, counterbalanced by the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on the property. According to a report on Inquirer.net, Long told authorities the drugs were there only to help his staff work through long shifts.
The unfortunate Chinese national could hardly have a picked a worse time to get busted with drugs in the Philippines.
Besides its interest in shutting down legal and illegal gambling operations, the Duterte government’s true passion is eradicating drug use on the island archipelago. To that end, Philippines police and vigilante squads have killed and incarcerated thousands of suspected drug dealers and users since Duterte took power in June.
Long and his compatriots are currently being held by the National Police for questioning. There’s no word and when, or if, bail will be set for the unfortunate 60.