South Korean wanted for trading counterfeit currency arrested at NAIA
A South Korean who had been convicted of possesion and trading of counterfeit currency and still facing additional charges for the same offense in his country has been arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) identified the foreign futitive as Jang Junseok, 26, who was arrested last April 7 before he could board his flight to Busan, South Korea.
“Jang was arrested after his name prompted a hit in the BI’s derogatory list indicating that he is subject of a watchlist order from the bureau as well as of a red notice issued by the Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization),” the BI said in a statement.
It said that Jang has been described as "a professional counterfeit currency user who forged South Korean bank notes, used them at will and engaged in acts that disrupted social order.”
Citing a report received by the Interpol unit at the BI, the bureau said “a warrant for Jang’s arrest was issued by the Daegu district court in South Korea on Feb. 28, 2024 after a case for possession and trading counterfeit currency was filed against him.”
Jang, it said, "had six prior convictions for the same criminal offense but was released on parole in 2023.”
“While on parole, Jang allegedly continued to forge bank notes and used a pseudonym to cheat his victims who were offered the fake bank notes at lower prices compared to the genuine notes,” it also said.
“The value of the currency notes he allegedly forged amounted to more than 30 million won, or about $22,000,” it added.
Jang has been detained at the BI’s facility in Taguig City pending his deportation.