Philippine agents arrest 43 in cybersex raids

Philippine authorities say they have arrested 43 suspected members of a syndicate that runs a lucrative online cybersex operation catering to clients worldwide.

The Presidential Anti-Organised Crime Commission said government agents arrested 43 men and women and seized 115 computers in raids on three locations late Wednesday in Dinalupihan town in Bataan province west of Manila.

Police said today that the syndicate operated a website at which clients could ask women to perform lewd acts for a fee.

The government has been cracking down on cybercrimes in recent years. Easy access to the Internet, a relatively low risk of arrest and big financial gains have caused such crimes to flourish in recent years in countries such as the Philippines.