French Fugitive Arrested In Pampanga Over Drug-Related Crimes
FRENCH FUGITIVE – A French fugitive who is wanted for drug-related crimes in his hometown was recently arrested in Pampanga.
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Fugitive Search Unit chief Bobby Raquepo identified the suspect as 39-year-old Julien Barbier, who was caught on January 29 in Mabalacat City, Pampanga after they received an official communication from authorities in France, according to Inquirer.
Raquepo added that Barbier was being monitored by the Interpol since 2018 for crimes such as unlawful transport, retention, offer, sale, acquisition or use of drugs. These are in violation of the French Penal Code.
An arrest warrant in 2017 against the suspect was issued by the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris. The same court also issued a European warrant of arrest in September 2017.
The BI Fugitive Search chief said that they received tip from Barbier’s links to an illegal bank fraud syndicate, which operated in Pampanga and Cebu.
“Upon receipt of information about his crimes, the Commissioner immediately issued a Mission Order to effect his arrest. His presence in the country is a risk to public safety and security,”
The bureau said that Barbier offered the arresting agents money for him to be released.
“He, along with two Filipino cohorts, offered P1.5 million in exchange for his liberty. We immediately informed the Commissioner about this, and he instructed us to coordinate with the CIDG to be able to arrest the two others for this crime,”
After the incident, the two Filipino conspirators were also nabbed over corruption of public officials, based on the report.
“We are relentless in our drive to eliminate corruption. Let this serve as a warning to anyone considering attempting to bribe our employees,”
“Never offer bribes, as I have instructed BI personnel to ensure the arrest of whomever would offer money in exchange for letting arrested foreigners go scot free,”
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