MANILA, Philippines -- A Nigerian national who tried to leave for Canada with a fake passport was arrested Thursday night at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Immigration Commissioner Marcelino Libanan said.

Paulinus Mars Chibueze, 24, was sent back to Lagos, Nigeria also on Thursday, said Libanan.

The arrest came amid stepped up transnational efforts to curb human trafficking, he said.

Chibueze would be placed on the immigration blacklist to prevent him from reentering the Philippines, Libanan said. Abigail Dy, contributor