French Fugitive Accused of Drug Crimes Arrested in Pampanga
Photo Credit: Bureau of Immigration
A French fugitive with a record of drug crimes in his homeland has been arrested in Pampanga, the Bureau of Immigration said on Monday, February 1.
The suspect, identified as Julien Barber, was arrested on Friday, January 29, through a joint operation following a communication received from French authorities.
BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo said Barbier was monitored by the Interpol since 2018 reportedly for unlawful transport, retention, offer, sale, acquisition or use of drugs under Art 222-37 of the French Penal Code.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Barbier by the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris last August 2017, and a European Warrant of arrest in September 2017 by the same court.
Raquepo said they received information on Barbier’s links to an illegal bank fraud syndicate operating in Pampanga and Cebu.
A mission order to arrest Barbier was issued.
“His presence in the country is a risk to public safety and security,” Raquepo said.
Barbier is temporarily in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group awaiting the results of his COVID-19 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test.
Raquepo disclosed that Barbier, along with two Filipino cohorts, offered P1.5-M as bribe in exchange for his liberty.
Through an entrapment operation, the two Filipino cohorts of Barbier identified as Joseph Gonzales and Aaron Bolus were arrested on Sunday.
The Philippine National Police said Gonzales and Bolus will be charged with Corruption of Public Officials.
The suspect, identified as Julien Barber, was arrested on Friday, January 29, through a joint operation following a communication received from French authorities.
BI Fugitive Search Unit Chief Bobby Raquepo said Barbier was monitored by the Interpol since 2018 reportedly for unlawful transport, retention, offer, sale, acquisition or use of drugs under Art 222-37 of the French Penal Code.
A warrant of arrest was issued against Barbier by the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris last August 2017, and a European Warrant of arrest in September 2017 by the same court.
Raquepo said they received information on Barbier’s links to an illegal bank fraud syndicate operating in Pampanga and Cebu.
A mission order to arrest Barbier was issued.
“His presence in the country is a risk to public safety and security,” Raquepo said.
Barbier is temporarily in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group awaiting the results of his COVID-19 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test.
Raquepo disclosed that Barbier, along with two Filipino cohorts, offered P1.5-M as bribe in exchange for his liberty.
Through an entrapment operation, the two Filipino cohorts of Barbier identified as Joseph Gonzales and Aaron Bolus were arrested on Sunday.
The Philippine National Police said Gonzales and Bolus will be charged with Corruption of Public Officials.