The Regional Trial Court in Makati ordered the forfeiture of cash in the amount of ¢189 million, which was seized in a 2023 raid at a cyber scam hub in Mabalacat, Pampanga. This ruling is in favor of the Philippine government and comes after significant legal action stemming from the large-scale operation; the court ruling was handed down on April 24. The case for forfeiture was brought against the AMLC with assistance from numerous other law enforcement agencies during the entire process.
Disclosing an Extensive System
The authorities participating in the operation exposed what is called a sprawling cybercrime and human trafficking operation. This sophisticated criminal enterprise was allegedly posing as a legitimate offshore gaming company based in the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. The particular offices that were raided on May 4th, 2023, precisely two years before today, were the office of “Colorful and Leap Group Co,” listed as a subsidiary of CGC Technologies Inc. According to the source, the company claimed to operate within the Clark Sun Valley Hub complex and announced they were running an offshore gambling operation.
Sadly, the operations exposed rapidly painted a disturbing picture of the actual reality behind their activities. Alongside the assumed offshore gaming operation was the execution of complex, deceitful cryptocurrency operations and romance scams. Moreover, the hub was masked behind the facade of an offshore gambling business, but in reality, it was executing the forced labor of trafficked people.
Summary of the Raid and Its Accompanying Rescue Operations
The Mabalacat facility was raided as part of a larger operation involving critical government and law enforcement agencies. The operation was under the jurisdiction of the Philippine National Police—Anti-Cybercrime Group together with the Department of Justice’s Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
The whole operation was carried out under the supervision of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). During the raid, law enforcement managed to free a significant number of people who were allegedly victims of the human trafficking, forced labor, and capture services crime scheme. From the facility, 1137 foreigners and 129 Filipinos were rescued. It is estimated that the majority of these people were forced by a criminal organization to operate numerous online scams.
Seized Cash and Currencies Composition
One of the most prominent results from the operation was the recovery of a significant sum of cash located at the site. Law enforcement officials retrieved ₱189.6 million in cash, which was said to be kept in vaults in the facility. The cash that was taken mostly consisted of different types of currencies, which illustrate the Philippine scam operation and the nature of its victims.
The source lists that the funds recovered contained some amount of U.S. dollars, Chinese yuan, Vietnamese dong, and other Asian currencies. The amount of money and the various currencies received demonstrate the scale of the fraudulent schemes and human trafficking conducted from the center.
Legal Actions and Current Suspect Status
Subsequent to the execution and confiscation, litigation was commenced, which culminated in the recent forfeiture order. Respondents in the case, a good number of whom have been captured as Chinese nationals, challenged the litigation. They seem to contest the ownership of the money, which was claimed to have been seized from them and also contested the jurisdictional venue for the proceedings, which was at the Regional Trial Court in Makati, Philippines.
Despite all of this, the court granted the government’s position and subsequently ordered the funds forfeited, meaning the seized cash along with ₱189 million would be handed over to the government. Allegedly, a copy of the court’s ruling has been dispatched to the Angeles City District Jail. The suspects associated with the operation are now held at this center. My source informs me that the suspects include those who allegedly used the names of “Big Boss,” “Dolly,” and “Ace,” which suggests some level of coordination within the criminal group. The court’s forfeiture order marks an important milestone in the legal steps taken after interrupting the sophisticated cybercrime and human trafficking operation.
