Lockdown looms at BI jail pending probe on drugs smuggle try

In a statement Wednesday, BI Warden Facility officer in charge Adelfo Marasigan said the restriction would be implemented during investigations on the case. (File Photo: Bureau of Immigration, Republic of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City will be placed on lockdown pending an investigation into another foiled attempt to smuggle illegal drugs by two detainees.

In a statement Wednesday, BI Warden Facility officer in charge Adelfo Marasigan said the restriction would be implemented during investigations on the case.

He identified the foreigners involved as American national Robert Wayne Boling Jr., and South Korean national Kwon Hyeok Soo, both 41 years old, who tried to sneak in two sachets of shabu weighing almost 7 grams on October 4.

“The narcotic substance was found hidden inside a Korean stew that was delivered for Boling,” Marasigan added.

He said agents began to be suspicious when they noticed that the food delivery requested by Boling was almost the same time as that of another South Korean detainee Yang Heejun back in September.

Boling, however, reportedly confessed that he was only asked to seek approval for the delivery of the food supplies and that the real owner of the supplies was Kwon.

Both were apprehended and are awaiting charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.

On September 21, Yang was also caught sneaking in 4 grams of shabu found wrapped in plastic inside a kimchi (fermented vegetables) container.

Boling and Kwon will be criminally charged and prosecuted in court and, if convicted, shall serve their sentence in the country before they are deported.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco lauded the agents at the detention center for this accomplishment.

“This is our officers’ second drug apprehension in three weeks. And although it is highly commendable, we assure the public that the bureau will not allow these foreigners to use our detention facility as a center for their illegal drug trade,” he said.