THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested two South Korean nationals wanted by authorities in Seoul for fraud and drug pushing.

The Fugitive Search Unit of BI identified the suspects Noh Kyungwoo, 36, who was arrested last Tuesday, November 23, 2021 along F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

The other fugitive, who is wanted for illegal drugs, was identified as Kwon Soonho, 53, arrested the next day at the Hall of Justice building in Angeles City.

Both aliens were arrested on the strength of a mission order issued by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.

They are now detained at the BI Warden Facility in Taguig City pending deportation proceedings.

"Despite the pandemic there has been no letup in our intensified campaign to go after foreign fugitives who are hiding in the country to evade prosecution and sentence for their crimes," Morente said.

According to the FSU, Noh is subject of an arrest warrant issued in April 2014 by the Daejeon District Court in South Korea where he was charged with fraud.

Noh allegedly used fictitious names to swindle a compatriot who lost more than 59 million won or roughly US$50,000 by using the personal information of the victim buying and reselling cars in the online car sales business.

“We also learned that last November 12, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) policemen intercepted arrested Noh for falsification of public documents but he was reportedly released on bail on the same day,” said BI-FSU Acting Chief Rendel Ryan Sy.

As for Kwon, Sy said an arrest warrant was issued against the former by the Seoul central district court in June 2019 after he was charged for trading and administering psychotropic drugs in violation of his country’s narcotics control act.

"Both of them are already overstaying and undocumented aliens as their passports were already revoked by the Korean government,” Sy added.