3 South Korean nationals arrested for online illegal gambling

INQUIRER file photo / ALEXIS CORPUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Three South Korean nationals wanted in Seoul for operating illegal gambling sites were apprehended in separate operations by local authorities, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Monday.

According to BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, the fugitives were identified as Kim Heechul, 36; Seo Min, 32; and Kim Yongsu, 45.

Viado said all three are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig, and they are awaiting deportation.

“They will also be placed in our blacklist of undesirable to make sure they won’t be able to come back to the Philippines,” Viado’s statement read.

The BI said Kim Heechul was arrested on Friday, November 8, in BF Homes in Parañaque City. It did not disclose the arrest details on Seo Min and Kim Yongsu.

The BI also revealed that Kim Heechul is wanted by the Interpol, with an arrest warrant issued by the Jeonju District Court in South Korea in May 2021.

“He allegedly conspired with other suspects in running the said websites since 2014 and was accused of receiving gambling funds, converting them into cryptocurrency, and distributing winning dividends based on online betting results,” the BI’s statement read.

Meanwhile, arrest warrants for Seo Min and Kim Yongsu were issued by the Incheon District Court in May 2023.

Viado revealed the two are allegedly mid-level managers of an online gaming syndicate, tasked with training and managing new employees while overseeing the illegal operations of more than 23 online gambling sites.

“The websites’ operators reportedly raked millions of profits of more than 2 trillion won, or roughly 1.4 million US dollars from their illegal activities,” he added.

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