‘POGO boss’ Huang Zhiyang holds €2 million in Cyprus, joint report says

Jenny Ortiz January 17, 2025

SiGMA news

Chinese national Huang Zhiyang, the alleged boss of the illegal offshore gaming hubs in the Philippines and implicated in human trafficking and money laundering, has misused international investment programmes like Cyprus’ golden passport scheme, a report revealed.

According to a joint investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Project (OCCRP), the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN) and Philippine media Rappler, Huang secured Cypriot citizenship in 2019 by investing €2 million in a local real estate firm. This citizenship enabled him to establish businesses, including a real estate company in the Philippines’ Tarlac province. The scheme, later scrapped for enabling criminals to gain citizenship, highlights the vulnerabilities of such programmes.

Huang, who is now wanted in the Philippines and China, is accused of operating extensive offshore gaming businesses. Philippine authorities have frozen his local assets, including five bank accounts and a compound linked to illegal activities. Efforts to recover his Cypriot investments are under consideration but face legal hurdles.

Multiple passports belonging to fugitive Huang Zhiyang, a business partner of suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, were found. Images shared with media show he holds passports for China, Taiwan, Cyprus, Saint Kitts & Nevis. 2/3
— CyberScamMonitor (@CyberScamWatch)

Offshore gaming and organised crime

Huang’s involvement in Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) reveals a network of criminal activity. These operations allegedly served as fronts for love, investment, and cryptocurrency scams, along with human trafficking. Workers within these operations reported abuse and coercion, with some forced into fraudulent activities under threat of violence or financial penalties.

Huang’s ties extend to Zhang Ruijin and Lin Baoying, who were convicted of money laundering in Singapore. Together, they co-founded the Baofu Land Development Corporation, a hub for illegal activities, in Bamban, Tarlac where Alice Guo was the former Mayor. Despite claims of divestment, evidence suggests Huang retained influence within the company.

Singapore launches probe into Alice Guo

Alice Guo, the dismissed Mayor of Bamban, is another central figure in this network. The former Mayor is accused of espionage and links to illegal gaming; Guo’s case underscores the regional challenges of combating transnational crime. After evading Philippine authorities, Guo was arrested in Indonesia. Her movements across Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia involved multiple associates, highlighting the interconnectedness of these criminal activities.

Guo co-founded Baofu Land Development and was linked to operations like Lucky South 99, a POGO raided in 2023 for human trafficking and torture. Singaporean authorities, collaborating with the Philippines, are investigating Guo’s associates, including Wu Duanren, another alleged POGO mastermind.

Cross-border coordination and challenges

These cases underline the complexities of addressing transnational crime. The Philippine Senate and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have sought international cooperation to track assets and extradite suspects. Cyprus has shown a willingness to assist if legal procedures are met. However, enforcing cross-border justice requires navigating different legal systems, delaying outcomes.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force told The Strait Times that it was working with Philippine authorities on Guo’s case due to the alleged involvement of the dismissed Mayor’s associates.

In July 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned POGO operations in the Southeast Asian country. The move marked a shift in policy amid growing evidence of POGO’s links to illegal activities. Initially promoted for its economic benefits, the sector became a breeding ground for criminal enterprises. Authorities also began intensified crackdowns on POGO ‘guerilla operations’ as well as help affected Filipino POGO workers find new jobs.

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