On the evening of July 2, 2025, the Philippine police launched a raid in the Alang-Alang community of Mandaue City, Cebu, successfully dismantling a suspected telecommunications fraud den, arresting 8 Chinese suspects, and rescuing several victims who were illegally detained and forced into scam activities. During the operation, the police seized a large number of computers, mobile phones, and communication devices used for fraud, and discovered many key pieces of evidence.
This raid was led by the Philippine Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Special Investigation Team, in collaboration with the Central Visayas Regional Force, Cebu Provincial Police Office, Cebu City Police, and Mandaue City Police, with the search warrant issued by the local court, and the entire process was conducted in accordance with the law.
Shockingly, many of the victims rescued at the scene had visible physical injuries, with some even suffering from thigh fractures and severe bandaging of limbs, indicating that the gang had been involved in long-term illegal detention, forced labor, violent beatings, and even torture. The police described the environment as a "modern digital slave labor camp."
Initial investigations revealed that the den was not only involved in large-scale telecommunications fraud but also committed crimes such as human trafficking, illegal detention, and severe bodily harm. This case has been classified as a major transnational crime by the Philippines and is currently under comprehensive investigation. The 8 arrested Chinese suspects are currently being interrogated by the police.
As of now, there has been no public response from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines regarding their involvement in the case. The Philippine police stated that they will continue to expand the scope of the investigation, track down the masterminds behind the gang and other potential suspects, and vigorously combat such cross-border criminal activities.
