Pasay city: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has apprehended a 52-year-old Korean national, who is wanted by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) for allegedly operating a large-scale illegal online gambling syndicate.

According to Philippines News Agency, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado announced that Cho Yungeon, also known as Cho Min, was taken into custody on July 15 at the departure area of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1. The arrest was executed by the BI's Fugitive Search Unit in collaboration with South Korean authorities, the Philippine National Police-Interpol Group, and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

Cho is under an arrest warrant issued by the Busan District Court, accused of running an illegal online gambling website from Makati City since January 2024. The operation allegedly involved accepting bets on both domestic and international sporting events, processing online deposits, paying out winnings based on betting odds, and offering casino games such as baccarat.

BI records reveal that Cho entered the Philippines in 2019 using a Cambodian passport under the name Cho Min. Biometric verification later confirmed his identity as the wanted Korean national, Cho Yungeon. The foreign national has been transferred to the BI Warden Facility, where he will remain detained pending deportation proceedings.