Philippines’ CICC Equips Police with Mobile BTS Trackers to Combat IMSI Surveillance

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) in the Philippines has enhanced the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) capabilities by providing tools to track IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) catchers. These devices are typically used to collect IMSI numbers from mobile devices, enabling unauthorized tracking of device owners’ locations and activities. The deployment follows recent arrests of criminal syndicates using IMSI catchers for SMS scam operations in the country.

CICC Executive Director Alexander K. Ramos conducted an inspection of newly acquired tracking tools on March 9, 2025. The inspection, attended by PNP-ACG Chief Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, demonstrated the ongoing collaboration between the two agencies in their efforts to combat cybercrime. The partnership has already yielded significant results, including the arrest of several individuals conducting unauthorized surveillance near government facilities.

The implementation of mobile BTS (Base Transceiver Station) trackers marks a significant technological advancement for the PNP-ACG. These specialized devices are designed to detect and locate IMSI catchers, providing law enforcement with enhanced capabilities to identify and disrupt unauthorized surveillance operations. IMSI catchers work by mimicking legitimate cell towers, intercepting mobile communications and collecting subscriber data from nearby devices.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen cybercrime prevention and investigation capabilities within Philippine law enforcement agencies. The mobile BTS trackers enable more effective detection of unauthorized cellular surveillance equipment, supporting the agencies’ mandate to protect citizens from cyber-enabled crimes. The effort supports the country’s wider digital security initiatives, including the recent rollout of a Digital National ID system to enhance citizen identity verification and protect against fraud.

Sources: Inquirer Technology, Journal.com.ph, Inquirer Technology

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