The Uijeongbu District Court issued an arrest warrant on Friday for Park Wang-yeol, a 48-year-old notorious drug trafficker repatriated from the Philippines. The court cited risks of flight and evidence destruction. He arrived in South Korea in handcuffs on Wednesday and was immediately placed in police custody.
The Uijeongbu District Court in South Korea issued an arrest warrant on March 27 for Park Wang-yeol, citing risks of flight and destruction of evidence.
The 48-year-old, who has been serving a 60-year prison sentence in the Philippines for the murders of three South Koreans, was repatriated under an extradition treaty between the two countries. He arrived in handcuffs on Wednesday and was immediately taken into custody by the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police.
Park faces charges of smuggling methamphetamine and other drugs into South Korea. During police questioning, he admitted to taking methamphetamine after testing positive for the drug, according to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police.
Police have apprehended 236 suspects connected to Park's smuggling operation, including 42 members of his organization and drug buyers. Authorities plan to continue investigating him for additional drug-related crimes while he remains in custody.
Park did not respond to reporters' questions upon arriving at the court in a police vehicle. Following a decision by the deliberation committee on Friday, police disclosed his identity, date of birth, and mug shot, which will be posted on the police website for public disclosure for one month.
