The National Bureau of Investigation arrested three Filipinos in a series of operations aimed at curbing the sale of pre‑registered SIM cards that were reportedly supplied to scam hubs, offshore gaming operators, illegal online lending collectors, and other cybercriminals.
The bureau’s Cybercrime Division initiated the crackdown after uncovering an illicit trade in pre‑registered SIM cards. An entrapment operation in Pasay City on July 9 led to the arrest of a suspect believed to be selling the devices.
Information gathered from that operation triggered a controlled delivery in Makati City, where authorities detained a Nigerian national who had allegedly received the SIM cards. Forensic examination of seized gadgets linked him to an online “love scam.”
Follow‑up operations in Parañaque City and Manila resulted in the arrest of two additional suspects and the seizure of 730 pre‑registered SIM cards. The actions targeted not only the scam operators but also the supply chain that provides these cards to cybercriminals.
