Immigration operatives arrested an Australian national believed to be a member of the notorious Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel in Bogo City, Cebu province.
Gregor Johann Haas, a wanted fugitive from Australia and Indonesia has a standing red notice by the Interpol which stemmed from a criminal case that was filed against him in Indonesia.
An arrest warrant against Haas was issued last Jan. 29 by the national narcotics board of Indonesia which filed a case for drug smuggling against him.
Indonesian authorities have accused Haas, with links to the Sinaloa drug cartel, of being behind the attempt to smuggle into Indonesia on Dec. 11, 2023, a shipment of more than 5 kilograms of the illegal methamphetamine drug substance concealed inside floor ceramics.
The drugs were seized by Indonesian authorities who later discovered via testimonies elicited from arrested drug couriers that the packages were sent by Haas from Guadalajara, Mexico.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco described Haas’ arrest as a major accomplishment of the BI in its continuing drive to flush out wanted foreign criminals in the country.
He described the Australian as a high-profile fugitive for being an alleged member of the Sinaloa cartel, a large international organized crime syndicate based in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico that specializes in drug trafficking and money laundering activities.
Founded in the 1980s, the cartel reportedly operates in Mexico, and is considered to be one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the world.
In the 90’s, the cartel is said to be headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
The Australian is now detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City pending deportation proceeding