Manila: A Chinese national suspected of being part of a notorious "salisi" gang involved in thefts aboard commercial airlines was apprehended at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Tuesday. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified Zhou Wei, 52, who was intercepted after attempting to enter the country on a Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur on January 20.

According to Philippines News Agency, a report from the BI Advance Passenger Information System Operations Center indicated that their office received an alert regarding Zhou's movements. International intelligence sources have identified Zhou as a member of an organized criminal group comprising Chinese citizens involved in thefts aboard various airlines. These crimes typically involve stealing cash and other valuables from hand-carry luggage in overhead compartments belonging to other passengers.

Upon arrival, Zhou was denied entry into the Philippines, returned to his country of origin, and subsequently blacklisted and banned from re-entering the country. Commissioner Viado stated that the operation was facilitated by the use of UN goTravel software from the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, with support from the Australian government. "This system allowed us to get advance information about suspected criminals, giving us the opportunity to make the necessary arrangements for their interception," he said in a statement.