MANILA, Philippines—Five blacklisted Chinese nationals with alleged ties to the raided offshore gaming firm Lucky South 99 were arrested in Zamboanga City while attempting to flee the country through a backdoor exit, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday.

The BI identified the arrested individuals as Ying Guanzhen, 31; Yang Jinlong, 29; Liu Xin, 28; Shen Kan, 36; and Luo Honglin, 27. Two of them are fugitives wanted in China, while all five had been previously linked to illegal activities tied to Lucky South 99, a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO).

Authorities said the group planned to escape by fusing the backdoor exit route from Tawi-Tawi to Sabah, Malaysia, using a “transporter”—a person facilitating illegal travel out of the country. 

Their attempt, however, failed when their boat suffered engine trouble near Languyan Island in Tawi-Tawi, leading to their capture by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) authorities.

The BI verified that the individuals had been blacklisted for immigration violations.

Following this confirmation, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado authorized their immediate arrest upon their arrival in Zamboanga City, where they were escorted by police officers and turned over to the Philippine National Police (PNP) for custody.

“This operation highlights the growing trend of foreign fugitives exploiting backdoor exit routes to evade law enforcement. Strengthening border security and intelligence-sharing remains crucial in preventing these illegal escapes,” Viado said.

The arrested individuals remain in police custody as deportation proceedings are initiated.