The Bureau of Immigration (BI) arrested in Makati City 36 Japanese who were allegedly behind a telecommunications scam that defrauded their compatriots of an estimated 2 billion yen (P934 million).
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said they were out to arrest 20-year-old Nobuki Oshita and 33-year-old Yusuke Kiya, who are both wanted for theft, when they were found in a Makati hotel with the 34 others who were supposedly engaging in voice phishing operations.
Japanese authorities later confirmed that all 36 were part of an organized crime group that victimized 1,393 of their compatriots.
They are awaiting deportation at the BI detention facility.—JOVIC YEE