Drug fugitive from South Korea arrested at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines —  A South Korean man wanted for illegal drug activities was arrested upon arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport,  the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported Thursday.

The BI identified the fugitive as Son Hyunbeen, who is sought by South Korean authorities.

Son arrived in the Philippines on Dec. 15 from Bangkok, Thailand, according to the agency.

The BI’s border control and intelligence unit indicated that Son’s name triggered an alert in Interpol’s 24-hour global police communications system, which is linked to the agency’s database of wanted foreign criminals.

The National Central Bureau in Manila provided information that Son is under an arrest warrant issued by the Suwon District Court in South Korea in 2020.

The BI stated that Son is accused of illegally trading psychotropic drugs. He allegedly conspired with three others to import methamphetamine drugs from Cambodia to South Korea in 2017.

According to the BI, Son and his accomplices reportedly made about 157 million won, or over P6.7 million, from selling drugs in South Korea.

The BI further reported that Son was arrested by immigration agents and later transferred to the agency’s detention facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City, where he awaits deportation.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco, in a press release, declared Son an undesirable alien, adding that he will be blacklisted and barred from re-entering the Philippines.

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