Philippine police recently successfully rescued a 14-year-old Chinese student who was kidnapped by a Chinese criminal gang. The gang had killed his driver and cut off his finger to force his family to pay a high ransom. The rampant crime syndicates in Southeast Asia, especially those related to cross-border crimes of telecom fraud and illegal gambling, have drawn international attention.
According to an Associated Press report, Philippine officials said on Wednesday (February 26) that Philippine police successfully rescued a Chinese student kidnapped by a Chinese criminal gang, which had killed his driver and cut off his finger to force his family to pay a huge ransom.
Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla stated that despite the kidnappers demanding a huge ransom, the student's family refused to pay. On Tuesday night, as police closed in on the kidnappers' vehicle, the criminals abandoned the 14-year-old victim on a busy street in downtown Manila, and the police subsequently rescued him safely.
The police revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of 20 million US dollars, which was later reduced to 1 million US dollars, but the family never compromised. To apply pressure, the kidnappers cut off part of the victim's right little finger and filmed a video threatening his family.
Additionally, the victim's driver was killed after the incident, and his body was found in an abandoned vehicle by the police, who also obtained crucial evidence, including phone numbers related to the kidnappers. According to Remulla, the suspects have been identified by the police, and law enforcement is actively pursuing them.
It is reported that the student was kidnapped on February 20 after finishing school at a British school, and the case has attracted widespread attention due to its bold and brutal methods. Remulla mentioned that the victim's family and the Chinese head of the criminal gang were involved in the illegal online gambling business, which flourished during the presidency of former President Rodrigo Duterte but was banned after the current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office.
In Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines and Cambodia, illegal gambling websites mainly target Chinese customers, as gambling is prohibited within China. Remulla pointed out that as the Philippine government bans illegal gambling, some criminal gangs have turned to kidnapping and other violent crimes, while online cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, and investment fraud still pose significant threats.
Radio Free Asia recently reported that Chinese organized crime is rampant in Southeast Asia, with online gambling and telecom fraud being the main methods. The Chinese government has repeatedly pressured these Southeast Asian countries to join forces in combating transnational crime. Thai and Cambodian police recently raided a telecom fraud organization, rescuing 215 people who were returned to China.
