The Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced the arrest of three Nigerian nationals found to be involved in fraud and scamming operations.
The arrested aliens were identified as Shaka Hashimu Dirisu, 41; Anih Chinedu Miracle, 27; and Gabriel Daniel Evans, 31.
According to BI Intelligence Division Chief Fortunato Manahan, Jr., the aliens were arrested last Feb. 16 in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through the strength of a Mission Order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.
The trio were said to be involved in a love scam, targeting Filipinas they meet online, who they reportedly defraud large sums of money.
“We are also investigating their links to a South African organized crime group and other scamming and fraud activities, as well as looking into possible cohorts that are still in the country,” said Manahan.
“They have been using several aliases, and their documents reveal that they are already overstaying,” he shared.
The three face deportation cases for overstaying, misrepresentation, and for being undesirable aliens, in violation of the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940, as amended.
Morente commended the efforts of the arresting team and ordered them to go after aliens who scam and abuse the vulnerabilities of Filipinos during the pandemic.
It can be recalled that earlier this year, two Nigerians were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for their alleged involvement in an online banking fraud that affected at least 700 clients of a major banking institution.