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Chinese fugitive wanted for illegal gambling arrested at Philippine airport
Jenny Ortiz
January 15, 2025
A Chinese national linked to a massive illegal gambling syndicate was apprehended by the officers of the Philippines’ Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on Tuesday.
According to the BI, the suspect, 38-year-old Huang Sen, was intercepted during departure processing at the NAIA Terminal 1 after his name triggered a match in the bureau’s Interpol derogatory system.
“A red notice for Huang’s arrest was issued by Interpol Beijing on December 4 last year at the request of the Chinese government,” BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said. Huang was immediately placed in custody and transferred to the BI detention facility in Taguig City while awaiting deportation.
Charges in China
According to the BI, Huang is wanted by the public security bureau in Luojiang District, Deyang, China, for allegedly operating illegal online gambling sites. A warrant for his arrest was issued on August 27, 2024.
According to Peter de Guzman, acting chief of the BI-Interpol unit, Huang is accused of working with others to run a global gambling network. The syndicate reportedly engaged over 70,000 employees and attracted over one million Chinese customers.
“Chinese authorities have pinpointed Huang as the alleged head of the syndicate’s betting department,” De Guzman added.
Massive operations and profits
The gambling syndicate is believed to have handled bets exceeding 700 billion yuan (€92.6 billion). It reportedly earned at least 2 billion yuan (€264.7 million) in profits. According to Chinese authorities, Huang’s alleged role within the organisation was pivotal to its operations.
Deportation and blacklisting
Viado emphasised that Huang’s arrest and impending deportation underscore the BI’s commitment to upholding security. “He will be deported for being an undesirable alien and placed on our blacklist of undesirable aliens to prevent him from re-entering the country,” Viado affirmed.
The arrest highlights the collaboration between Philippine and international authorities in addressing cross-border crime and ensuring fugitives face justice.
Last year, China’s Supreme Court directed courts across the East Asian country to enforce strict penalties on those involved in cross-border gambling offences, particularly targeting organisers, leaders, and repeat offenders. The measure seeks to mitigate financial risks and protect the nation’s economic stability. The court also underscored the rising problem of overseas casinos and online gambling networks targeting Chinese nationals. These activities not only cause substantial capital outflows but also fuel related crimes such as kidnapping, illegal detention, fraud, extortion, and money laundering.
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