CEBU CITY — The National Bureau of Investigation–Central Visayas Regional Office (NBI-CEVRO), in a joint operation with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordination Center (CICC), Bureau of Immigration (BI), and other government agencies, arrested two Malaysian nationals for violating the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

On June 28, 2025, the team apprehended CHONG HONG YEE and KIM CHUI TAN at a top hotel in Cebu City after discovering them in possession of and operating illegal transceivers and sniffing devices known as IMSI Catchers.

Following the discovery, authorities applied for a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSEC) to secure the devices.

On August 8, 2025, a composite team including agents from NBI, CICC, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) served the cyber warrant and seized laptops, Raspberry Pis, antennas, and other modular equipment used as cellular and data sniffers.

DICT Regional Cybersecurity Head and a CICC Cybercrime Investigator confirmed that the seized equipment could capture data up to the 5G network. The NTC attorney added that some tools required prior approval from the commission before use.

The seized items will undergo forensic examination to strengthen the case. Meanwhile, charges for violating Republic Act No. 10175, or the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012,” are being prepared for filing.