DAVAO CITY — A South Korean who has standing warrant of arrest in his country for illegal drugs was arrested and is set to be deported by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado identified the alien fugitive as 40-year-old Choi Sol, who was arrested last October 4 at the BI main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Choi was at the BI’s head office when he was collared by operatives of the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) who were tipped about his presence inside the Bureau’s premises.
Viado said Choi is an overstaying tourist, thus he will be deported for being an illegally staying and undesirable alien.
It was learned that Choi is subject of an Interpol red notice issued two years ago after he was indicted before a Korean court for violating his country’s narcotics control act.
A warrant for his arrest was reportedly issued by a district court in Cheongju City, South Korea in August 2022.
Authorities alleged that since 2022 Choi conspired with other suspects in operating a Telegram chatroom that was used to trade and advertise the sale of illegal drugs, including cocaine and hemp cartridges to the public.
It is believed that the suspects amassed a profit of more than 10 million won, or more than US$7,000 from their drug trading activities.
Choi’s passport has been revoked by the Korean government which made him an undocumented alien who is subject to immediate deportation.
He is currently detained at the BI Warden Facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.
