Latest news with #BureauofImmigration
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Koreans arrested for fake travel agency, streaming app scams in Pampanga
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested four Korean citizens in two separate operations in Pampanga. According to John Consulta's report in '24 Oras' on Wednesday, two Koreans were arrested for operating a fake travel agency while two others were allegedly masterminds of a streaming app scam. In one operation, personnel from BI's Fugitive Search Unit busted a residence after the Department of Tourism received complaints from some foreigners and Filipinos who were scammed by the illegitimate travel agency. Authorities found at the scene the desktop computers being used for the sham travel agency, the report added. 'Nagpapanggap nga sila na travel agency at nagtatawag sa kanilang mga biktima sa Korea upang alukin ng mga mababang flights at mababang rates sa mga hotels sa atin,' said BI Fugitive Search Unit chef Rendel Sy. (They were posing as a travel agency and were offering Koreans low rates for flights and hotels here in our country.) 'May nakausap tayong isang hotel sa Cebu at sinasabing may lumapag sa kanilang more than 30 Korean nationals na akala nila may booking sila dito sa isang 5-star hotel. Ngunit nung chineck ng hotel ay wala pong naka-register na booking itong grupong ito,' he added. (We talked to a hotel in Cebu and they told us that more than 30 Korean nationals went to them expecting that they already had a booking in this 5-star hotel. But when the hotel management checked, these foreigners did not make bookings.) In another operation, two other foreigners were arrested inside a villa for luring people to subscribe to an online streaming app. One of them is allegedly the leader of a scamming syndicate in South Korea, the report added. 'Na kukumbinsihin nila itong magpadala ng pera or mag-subscribe kung saan ito ay walang totoong subscription sa sinasabing movie streaming application,' Sy added. (They will convince them to send money or subscribe to a non-existent movie streaming application.) GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to the arrested foreigners who will face summary deportation. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
BI reports 'sharp rise' in PH foreign fugitive arrests
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Monday a "sharp rise" in the number of foreign fugitive arrests in the Philippines during the first half of 2025. According to the BI, immigration personnel nabbed a total of 268 foreign fugitives from January to June, up from the 69 arrests during the same period last year. "The Philippines will not be a hiding place for fugitives. We are determined to flush them out and send them back to face justice," Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said. "Our continued cooperation with foreign governments and international law enforcement agencies will ensure that the Philippines remains a secure nation from these fugitives," he said. Among those arrested was Lee Jihwan, a Korean who was nabbed arrested in January in Talisay City, Cebu for violent robbery in South Korea. Another Korean, Chu Hoyong, was collared in February for defrauding victims of KRW 2.26 billion using fake real estate collateral. He is considered a high-value target by Korean authorities and is allegedly linked to telecom fraud operations in the Philippines. Meanwhile, four Japanese believed to be members of the "Luffy" syndicate, were arrested between January and April. They are wanted in their home country for theft, allegedly impersonating police officers to gain entry into homes and carry out robberies. In May, seven more Japanese connected with the "JP Dragon" syndicate were apprehended for similar crimes. The group is known for targeting elderly victims by posing as authorities and stealing their automated teller machine (ATM) cards and banking details. Their alleged leader, Ryuji Yoshioka, was apprehended in Angeles City, Pampanga last June. The arrested individuals will undergo deportation proceedings and are to be expelled from the country for being undesirable aliens. Last week, the BI said it deported more than 1,400 foreigners during the first six months of 2025 for violating the country's immigration laws. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- GMA Network
1,422 foreigners deported from Jan-June for immigration violations
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Friday it deported more than 1,400 foreigners from January to June this year for violating the country's immigration laws. Data from the BI showed a total of 1,422 foreigners were expelled from the country for violating immigration laws—a significant increase from the 717 deportees reported during the same period last year. Of the deportees, 231 were Vietnamese, 41 were South Koreans, 41 were Malaysians, and 37 were Burmese. The majority of the deportees were foreigners found to be working in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) firms despite the ban. 'Our strengthened deportation protocols follow the directive of the President to act swiftly and remove foreigners who abuse our people's hospitality,' said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. 'We will continue expediting the deportation of foreign nationals who violate our laws,' he added. Viado earlier reported improvements in deportation protocols, including fast-tracking clearances in partnership with the National Bureau of Investigation, immediate resolution of cases suspected to be filed under the ''demanda me'' scheme, regular coordination with embassies for swift issuance of travel documents, and opening of a new holding facility for arrested aliens. 2 Sudanese nabbed Meanwhile, immigration authorities apprehended two Sudanese in San Carlos City, Pangasinan, for violating the country's immigration measures. Identified as Moneeb Ahmed Mohamed Yousif, 32, and Zaki Azhari Elzubair Basheer, 41, the suspects were arrested in a residence along M. Soriano St. on Tuesday, July 22. They are now detained at the BI detention facility in Taguig while awaiting deportation proceedings. An initial investigation showed the BI intelligence personnel launched an operation against Moneed after he was found to be staying in the country despite allegedly failing to update his visa. Zaki, meanwhile, was accused of harboring the illegal alien, violating the Philippine immigration laws. The suspects failed to present valid passports or travel documents during the arrest, rendering them undocumented foreign nationals. ''During the arrest, Basheer resisted and hurled expletives at the operatives. While in the premises of the San Carlos City Police Station, he requested to use the restroom but attempted to escape through the back of the building. He was immediately pursued and recaptured by BI agents,'' the BI said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Nashik airport lacks adequate immigration clearance area delaying approval for international flights
Nashik: Approval to set up an immigration checkpoint at the Nashik airport has been delayed by govt due to inadequate area for immigration clearance, preventing the operation of full international scheduled passenger flights. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a written reply to Nashik MP Rajabhau Waje's question on whether govt had granted approval to set up the immigration checkpoint at the Nashik airport following inspections by the Bureau of Immigration (BOI), Bandi Sanjay Kumar, the Union minister of state for home affairs, said no permission has been granted to establish an immigration checkpoint at the airport. The minister said after assessing the infrastructure requirements, the BOI recommended that the area available for immigration clearance at the Nashik (Ozar) airport is not sufficient to operate full international scheduled passenger flights. "It is adequate to house operating crew and passengers of cargo/chartered flights only. The required infrastructure and immigration systems are in place to cater to domestic and international cargo routes through Indian flight operators, and the necessary training for conducting immigration checks has been imparted by BOI to the police personnel who are already attached to the Nashik (Ozar) airport," Bandi Sanjay Kumar added in the written reply. The Nashik airport is managed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the defence PSU. HAL has already developed the infrastructure required for immigration checkpoints at Nashik airport. Manish Rawal, the vice-president of Nashik Industries and Manufacturers' Association (Nima), said they have been pursuing with state govt to construct a new terminal building at the Nashik airport given the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "If the new terminal building is constructed, the issues related to areas required for immigration clearance will get sorted out. Therefore, state govt needs to take up expansion of the Nashik airport," Rawal said. The Nashik airport was developed jointly by state govt and HAL at a total cost of Rs 94 crore in 2013 and 2014. State govt spent Rs 84 crore, while HAL spent Rs 10 crore and provided its land for the construction of the airport. State govt has leased the Nashik airport terminal building to HAL for 30 years at a lease rate of Rs 1,000 per month. The seating capacity of the Nashik airport is only 300 passengers at a time. During the Kumbh Mela, passenger footfall per hour is expected to reach 1,000 at the facility. Consequently, HAL submitted a proposal to state govt to develop the Nashik airport in anticipation of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.
Filipino Times
21-07-2025
- Filipino Times
BI warns vs. ‘mail-order bride' schemes after foiled trafficking attempt
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) warned the public against the 'mail-order bride' schemes following the interception of a Filipina at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) who attempted to leave the country for an arranged marriage in China. In a statement, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said such schemes are resurfacing where suspects often deceive women with promises of a better life abroad. 'The mail-order bride trap is rising again—all promise[s] upfront, tricking women into fake marriages and exploiting them as domestic workers with little or no pay,' he added. A 24-year-old woman was stopped on July 15 by officers from the Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) as she attempted to board a Xiamen Airlines flight to Xiamen, China. She claimed she was traveling with her brother to meet her Chinese husband, whom she had recently married. However, her marriage certificate had a visibly altered date, and her marriage license was issued after the reported wedding, raising suspicions. The woman later admitted that both the marriage and the documents were fake. She told authorities that a recruiter had offered her ₱8,000 and promised her a better life if she agreed to an arranged marriage with a Chinese national. The BI said the woman and her companion were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) under the Department of Justice for further investigation and assistance. Earlier this year, BI intercepted two other Filipinas at NAIA who claimed they were going to China to meet their Chinese spouses. Upon investigation, officers discovered that both were married on the same date and time as two other victims. They later admitted their marriages were also fake and arranged by a third party.
