BI nabs South Korea man wanted for illegal drugs

MANILA, Philippines —  A South Korean man wanted for online illegal drug trade has been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) while inside the government agency’s main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Personnel from the BI’s fugitive search unit arrested the man named Choi Sol, 40, on Oct. 4, according to the agency’s statement last Friday.

The BI said Choi is a “subject of an Interpol red notice” after a district court in Cheongju City, South Korea indicted him for violating the country’s narcotics control act in August 2022.

The BI added that he has been involved in the sale of cocaine and hemp cartridges using online messaging app Telegram since August 2022 and was among those who earned an estimated 10 million Korean won.

The South Korean government has canceled Choi’s passport due to the crime, making him an undocumented foreigner, according to the agency.

He was also found to be an overstaying tourist in the Philippines.

The BI detained Choi in its facility at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.