Joint Philippine and Chinese operations have resulted in a trio of nationals repatriated to China to face kidnapping charges allegedly linked to gambling.

The Manila Standard on Monday cited the Chinese Embassy as stating that the three departed the Philippines over the weekend to face the music in their homeland. The repatriation of the trio was, according to the Chinese Embassy, driven by a “strong determination of the two countries to jointly combat kidnapping and other crimes related to offshore gambling.”

Human traffickers in scam centers operating out of the Philippines and Southeast Asia lure victims with job offers to leave their homelands, only to have passports and mobile phones confiscated. The essentially kidnapped victims are forced to work on online scams including casinos, dating, and crypto schemes.

On Sunday, the embassy used the trio’s repatriation to remind other perpetrators that it’s against Chinese law to engage in any form of gambling: “Online gambling, cross-border gambling by Chinese nationals, and running casinos outside China to solicit Chinese nationals are all illegal in China.”

“tough measures” Beijing employs to crack down on kidnapping

The embassy in the Philippine capital of Manila warned of the “tough measures” Beijing employs to crack down on kidnapping and gambling crimes.

In June, the Chinese Embassy stated Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) were a breeding ground for “serious crimes such as kidnapping for ransom, human trafficking and murder.”

Earlier this month police raids on two hospitals in the Philippines revealed plastic surgery operations for clients that allegedly include scam center workers and illegal online casino operatives. In December 2022, Philippine officials arrested a suspected Chinese mafia operative who allegedly underwent plastic surgery to avoid the police.