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Philippines Apprehends 244 Foreign Nationals in Largest POGO Raid of 2026

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Altay Celikkaya

Content Manager

Updated: 05/10/26

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Philippine authorities have apprehended 244 foreign nationals in what the Bureau of Immigration described as the country’s largest POGO enforcement operation of 2026. The coordinated raids targeted two suspected offshore gaming sites in Zamboanga Sibugay on 2 October, extending the government’s crackdown nearly two years after it announced the nationwide POGO ban.

The operation also shows that enforcement has moved beyond shutting down licensed offshore gaming businesses. Authorities are now targeting suspected networks that continue operating despite the prohibition, with immigration enforcement, online scam investigations and possible trafficking concerns increasingly intersecting.

Philippine flag and Bureau of Immigration seal illustrating the detention of 244 foreign nationals in the country’s largest POGO raid of 2026.

Regulation & Compliance

Key Takeaways From the Philippines POGO Raid

Philippine authorities apprehended 244 foreign nationals during simultaneous operations in two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay.
The Bureau of Immigration described the operation as the largest POGO bust conducted in the Philippines in 2026.
Authorities recovered thousands of mobile phones, computers, SIM cards, and other technical equipment.
Those apprehended are being investigated for immigration violations and alleged involvement in illegal POGO-related online activity.
The raids form part of the government’s continuing enforcement of its nationwide prohibition on offshore gaming operations.

Two Operations Target Suspected POGO Sites

According to the Bureau of Immigration’s official announcement, the raids took place in Barangay Kimos in Siay and Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia. The BI Intelligence Division conducted the operations alongside the National Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Authorities apprehended 113 foreign nationals in Siay and another 131 in Alicia. Most were Chinese nationals, while the groups also included people from Cambodia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar. The BI said identities and nationalities remain subject to verification.

The operation follows the introduction of the Philippines’ unified POGO enforcement framework, which brought Executive Order No. 74 and the Anti-POGO Act of 2025 under a broader multi-agency enforcement structure earlier this year.

Thousands of Devices Recovered From Suspected Operations

Authorities recovered roughly 3,000 mobile phones, 78 computer monitors, laptops and SIM cards from one of the locations. The BI said it also seized technical devices believed to have been used for online scams, indicating investigators are examining activities beyond conventional offshore gaming.

The foreign nationals are being investigated for possible immigration offences, including working without appropriate visas, being undocumented and allegedly taking part in prohibited POGO-related online activity. Authorities are also coordinating on possible human trafficking violations, although any such offences remain subject to further investigation.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado said:

We will continue to enforce our immigration laws against foreign nationals who violate the conditions of their stay.

Illegal Online Gambling Remains an Enforcement Challenge

The scale of the operation highlights the continued presence of unauthorised digital gambling activity despite the national POGO ban. The challenge extends beyond former offshore gaming sites, with regulators also trying to distinguish legitimate online gambling businesses from illegal platforms still accessible to Filipino players.

PAGCOR has previously estimated that around half of online gaming sites accessed in the country operate illegally. The regulator is developing tools to direct players to licensed gaming platforms, while coordinating with other government agencies on unlicensed operators and their payment channels.

At the same time, lawmakers are examining the market’s promotional side. A proposed measure targeting online gambling advertising and affiliate marketing would restrict how gambling operators reach consumers through advertising, endorsements, sponsorships and digital promotion.

Enforcement Moves Into the Post-Ban Phase

For the Philippine government, the Zamboanga Sibugay raids demonstrate that the POGO ban has entered a longer enforcement phase rather than ending with the closure of authorised offshore operators.

The 244 foreign nationals apprehended in the latest operation will face immigration proceedings over their alleged violations. If deportation orders are issued, the BI said their names will be added to its blocklist, preventing them from re-entering the Philippines.

For the wider iGaming sector, the operation underscores the regulatory risks of continuing to serve a market after a full prohibition takes effect. It also shows how POGO enforcement increasingly overlaps with immigration controls, cybercrime investigations, and financial enforcement as Philippine authorities seek to prevent offshore gaming networks from re-emerging under new structures.