Immigration agents nabs Chinese fugitive at Naia

FILE PHOTO: Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Image from miaa.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday said its agents had intercepted a Chinese fugitive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Chen Yiye, 48, allegedly attempted to leave the country for China via a China Southern flight at the Naia Terminal 1, according to a statement from the bureau.

The BI cited the report of its Border Control and Intelligence Unit, which said that an immigration officer discovered that the Chinese national was included in their blacklist during a routine inspection.

The BI said Chen’s records show that he was the subject of a 2017 deportation case after he was arrested in August 2016 in  Angeles City, Pampanga, for illegally possessing 36.58 kg of crystal methamphetamine, locally known as “shabu.” The seized illicit drug was valued at P100 million.

It was unclear how Chen was not currently under the custody of Philippine authorities – despite his supposed arrest in 2016 – when he was collared at the Naia last January 5 as the BI statement did not mention any detail about this matter.

Nevertheless, following his arrest at the Naia and pending deportation, Chen was transferred to the BI’s warden facility inside Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

“These fugitives have no place in our country,” said BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco.

“Hence, he will be deported, and with his name included in our blacklist, he will be barred from returning to the Philippines,” he added.

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KGA