Policemen arrested a Korean and two Filipino women in a raid on an alleged crypto-trafficking establishment in Barangay Sta. Teresita, Angeles City, on November 12, police said in a report Sunday, Nov. 16.
The Police Regional Office in Central Luzon 3 (PRO3) said the Korean – identified only as ‘Lim,’ the operator of Wonso BPO Services Inc. located at the Knoll BPO Services building – was arrested during the serving of a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 here.
‘The warrant covered violations of R.A. (Republic Act) 9208 (Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act) in relation to R.A. 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012),’ the PRO3 said.
It said the company was allegedly ‘an illegal crypto-trafficking hub operating under the guise of a business process outsourcing company.’
A Filipino manager identified only as ‘Jane,’ and a secretary identified as ‘Gie,’ were also arrested during the operation conducted jointly by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the PRO3 and other agencies.
An alias ‘Park,’ another Korean operator, was able to elude arrest.
The PRO3 said several workers, including two minors, were rescued during the raid.
‘Authorities determined that the establishment was allegedly involved in illegal cryptocurrency farming and online exploitation, luring recruits with supposed call center jobs but subjecting them instead to deceptive and exploitative digital labor,’ it added.
During the raid, police officers seized 133 computer sets, 44 mobile phones, and internet gadgets and accessories, like modems and routers.
The PRO3 director, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr., said well-coordinated efforts from the involved law enforcement units and concerned agencies led to the successful tracking and dismantling of the alleged crypto-trafficking company.
Crypto-trafficking is the term used for criminal activities that combine human trafficking or trafficking of illicit goods or products with the use of cryptocurrencies for payment, money laundering or to lure potential scam victims.