Manila: Two foreigners wanted by Chinese authorities for involvement in economic crimes are awaiting deportation, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Monday. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado, in a news release, stated that the fugitives, Chinese national Su Yan, 47, and Hong Kong national Hui Chi Lam, 55, were arrested on October 31 at their condominium residence along Masangkay Street, Tondo, Manila.

According to Philippines News Agency, the arresting officers from the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) were equipped with a mission order issued by Commissioner Viado at the request of the Chinese government, which called for the bureau’s assistance in locating and deporting the fugitives. “They will be deported for being undesirable aliens, and their names will be included in our blacklist, banning them from re-entering the Philippines,” Viado said.

The two individuals are currently detained at the BI detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, awaiting deportation proceedings. Rendel Ryan Sy, the acti
ng chief of BI-FSU, disclosed that arrest warrants were issued against Su and Hui by the public security bureau of Luxi County in Jianxi, China, on March 17 of this year.

Sy added that the foreigners had violated Philippine immigration laws by overstaying in the country, failing to apply for an extension of their stay after their tourist visas expired. Chinese authorities allege that Su and Hui were involved in selling financial products to investors without the necessary qualifications and permits from the appropriate government agencies. It is estimated that the suspects have profited more than 59 million yuan, approximately USD 8.2 million, since they began their illegal activities in 2018.