Drug trafficker extradited from Philippines appears for arrest warrant hearing

UIJEONGBU — A notorious South Korean drug trafficker extradited from the Philippines appeared in court Friday for a hearing on whether to issue a warrant for his formal arrest. Park Wang-yeol, a 48-year-old who has been serving a 60-year prison sentence in the Philippines for the murders of three South Koreans, faces charges of smuggling methamphetamine and other drugs into South Korea. He arrived in his home country in handcuffs on Wednesday and was immediately taken into police custody in a temporary repatriation under an extradition treaty between the two countries. Park did not respond to reporters' questions as he arrived at the Uijeongbu District Court in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, in a police vehicle. The court is expected to make a decision on his pretrial detention later in the day. During police questioning, Park admitted to taking methamphetamine after he tested positive for the drug, according to the Gyeonggi Bukbu Provincial Police. Police have apprehended 236 suspects in connection with Park's smuggling operation, including 42 members of his organization and drug buyers.

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