The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has intercepted two South Korean nationals wanted in their home country for their alleged involvement in separate fraud syndicates while attempting to leave the Philippines for Vietnam.
In a press release dated November 3, the BI identified the suspects as Lee Jaeryeon, 32, and An Intae, 29, who were separately intercepted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on October 20.
BI-INTERPOL Acting Chief Peter De Guzman said the two were flagged after immigration officers confirmed that they were subjects of INTERPOL Red Notices in connection with criminal cases filed against them in South Korea.
Lee is accused of being a member of a romance scam syndicate operating in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Investigators said he allegedly posed as a romantic partner to victims he contacted through advertisements on Facebook and other social media platforms in 2024.
He reportedly persuaded the victims to visit a fraudulent website, where they were charged various fictitious fees, including verification and so-called "woman's choice" fees.
Meanwhile, An is accused of involvement in a stock investment scam that allegedly lured victims through advertisements on fake websites and social media platforms, including KakaoTalk and Instagram.
Authorities said victims were persuaded to deposit money into bank accounts owned or managed by An and his alleged accomplices.
The two syndicates reportedly generated more than 3.7 billion South Korean won, equivalent to approximately US$2.8 million, from their fraudulent operations.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado ordered the inclusion of both nationals in the bureau's blacklist, barring them from entering the Philippines in the future.
They are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
Viado said the interceptions demonstrate the bureau's efforts to prevent foreign fugitives from using the Philippines as a transit point or hiding place.
"Fraud syndicates operate across borders, and our response must be just as coordinated," Viado said.
"We will not allow individuals linked to these criminal networks to pass through our airports unchecked or use the Philippines to evade accountability," he added.
The BI said it would continue coordinating with local and international law enforcement agencies to apprehend foreign fugitives and undesirable aliens.
