Sokor man wanted for illegal drugs arrested in Makati – BI

Makati City-The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported the arrest of a South Korean man wanted by authorities in Seoul and the Interpol for narcotics trafficking.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the captured fugitive as Maeng Juhwan, 29, who was arrested last May 3 along Jupiter Street, Bel Air, Makati City by operatives from the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU).

“We will deport him because he is an undesirable and overstaying alien whose presence here poses a risk to public safety and security,” Viado said.

He added that Juhwan will be sent back to Korea as soon as the BI board of commissioners has issued the order for his summary deportation.

“He will then be blacklisted and perpetually banned from re-entering the country, the BI chief said.

Rendel Ryan Sy, BI-FSU chief, disclosed that Juhwan is also a subject of an Interpol red notice issued last Feb. 13 which indicated that an arrest warrant was issued by the Chuncheon district court on Oct. 25, 2023 for violating Korea’s narcotics control act.

Juhwan allegedly orchestrated the smuggling of Philopon, a residue of methamphetamine tagged as a commonly abused illegal substance in Korea.

The contraband concealed in a snack bag carried by his accomplice was reportedly transported via international airports two different occasions in September 2023.

A check of Juhwan’s travel records showed that he had been overstaying in the country for almost two years or since August 23, 2023.

He is currently detained at the BI custodial facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings. #