The National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice found over 200 cellphones, sim cards, chargers, and Indonesian passports inside the sealed vaults that were seized from an illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hub in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.

The raid was done based on a search warrant and authorities found three sealed steel vaults. The foreigners arrested inside the POGO hub have been brought to the Bureau of Immigration facility in Pasay City.

On Thursday morning, the vaults were forcibly opened with the consent of the court and witnessed by the media. Authorities had to use a grinder and crow bar to open the vaults.

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“All the things found inside the fault can be used in our pending case,” said NBI Central Visayas Regional Director Renan Oliva.

The NBI have filed charges of qualified trafficking before the Regional Trial Court in Lapu-Lapu City against 17 individuals who were arrested. Thirteen of them are Chinese, 2 Indonesians, one from Myanmar, and 1 Filipino.

More than 100 of them, on the other hand, were charged with violating immigration laws.

Authorities believe the gadgets found in the raid were used in money laundering; investments and love scams; and illegal gambling.

Meanwhile, the seized passport would also serve as evidence in charges filed against POGO operators.

“If you remember the testimonies given by the rescued foreigners, their passports were confiscated from by them, by their managers,” Oliva said.

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Authorities will apply for a warrant to examine the data in the cellphones seized.

“Why are these cellphones inside the vault? This might have information that is important in the operation of their illegal business,” Oliva said.

The NBI also seized over P8 million during the raid, which will be used as evidence in the anti-money laundering case.

Oliva also disclosed that the Department of Interior and Local Government including the Bureau of Internal Revenue coordinated with them for their own investigation on alleged involvement of government officials in the establishment of the POGO hub in Lapu-Lapu City.

They also obtained documentary evidence that may reveal alleged involvement of some local officials or employees.

The 17 suspects will be arraigned for qualified human trafficking on October 3.