Chinese fugitive repatriated from Philippines over gambling crimes

A Chinese fugitive surnamed Chen, suspected of organizing cross-border gambling crimes, was recently arrested and repatriated through cooperation between Chinese and Philippine law enforcement authorities, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said on Wednesday.

Chen's gambling syndicate had set up online gambling platforms in the Philippines and recruited Chinese citizens through website promotions, social media advertising, agent recruitment and personal referrals, according to an announcement posted by the embassy on its official WeChat account.

The group manipulated backend data, imposed strict withdrawal conditions, prolonged gambling sessions and increased gambling frequency to lure gamblers into losing all their funds, the embassy said.

The case involved more than 2.92 billion yuan ($433 million), seriously endangering people's lives, property and legitimate rights and interests, as well as national economic security, social stability and the national image, it said.

The embassy warned that gambling is "ten bets, ten scams; ten bets, ten losses" and is harmful to both oneself and others. It urged people to recognize gambling traps and stay away from all forms of gambling, warning that a moment of addiction can lead to a lifetime of regret.