Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested a Chinese national wanted by local authorities, for possession of illegal drugs after attempting to flee the country via a commercial flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
In a report to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, BI Intelligence Chief Fortunato Manahan Jr. identified the alien as 39-year-old Lin Guanxiu, who was intercepted on January 5 at NAIA Terminal 2 before he could board Philippine Airlines flight to Tianjin, China.
Manahan said Lin was initially denied departure clearance after the immigration officer saw that his name had registered a hit in the Interpol database of his computer.
The matter was then referred to the BI-Interpol unit and the National Central Bureau (NCB) which confirmed that the passenger and the subject of the Interpol red notice are one and the same person.
Lin was then turned over to agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), where he is temporarily detained pending issuance of a commitment order from the court which ordered his arrest.
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BI intercepts Chinese man wanted for illegal drugs at NAIA
It was learned that the Chinese national is subject of an outstanding arrest warrant issued by Branch 23 Judge Caesar Buenagua of the Regional Trial Court in Trece Martires City, Cavite on June 10, 2019.
Lin was charged for violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act which carries the penalty of life imprisonment.
Authorities alleged that on February 3, 2019, Lin and another Chinese national were caught in possession of more than 273 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu which were wrapped in sealed plastic sachets.
Morente, meanwhile, lauded the BI personnel responsible for foiling Lin’s attempt to flee the country and elude arrest and prosecution.
“We have in our database thousands of derogatory records on persons who are wanted for various crimes here and abroad. There is no way they can escape the vigilance of BI officers and agents guarding our ports of exit,” the BI Chief added.
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