MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Thursday a South Korean fugitive wanted for telecommunication fraud has been arrested in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

In a statement, BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said Kang Hee Woo, 35, has been at large since 2018 following the notice provided by the government of South Korea.

“It took almost five years of intensive manhunt and surveillance operations before we were able to arrest him. This serves as a warning to other foreign fugitives hiding in the Philippines. The long arm of the law will eventually catch you wherever you may be,” he said.

Kang was arrested during an operation launched by BI’s fugitive search unit on Wednesday.

He has been at large for being a ranking member of the Youngjae-Han telecommunication fraud syndicate.

According to the International Criminal Police Organization’s (Interpol) National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila, the syndicate operates voice phishing calls using random calls in South Korea.

“Kang was issued separate arrest warrants by the Seoul Central District Court and Seoul Dongbu Central District Court for alleged involvement in telecom fraud,” it added.

Their illicit operation was said to have claimed over 1 billion won or more than PHP41.9 million from its victims.

Being included in the Interpol’s red notice since 2021, Kang will be subjected to summary deportation and BI’s blacklisting.

He is currently at the BI warden facility at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City while awaiting his deportation. (PNA)