Korean nabbed in Manila for operating ‘sex tours’

A Korean national was arrested in Manila for allegedly operating a sex tour business, the Bureau of Immigration said on Sunday. The suspect was arrested in Malate after the BI received reports that he was organizing sex tours for Korean tourists in Manila. The BI said the Korean was also wanted for alleged extortion and blackmail. Immigration chief Ronaldo Ledesma said the suspect uses a travel agency as front for his illicit activities. BI intelligence chief Faizal Hussin said the suspect poses as a tour guide for the travel agency but is actually a pimp for male Korean customers who seek sex with local prostitutes. He did not name the travel agency but said it is now under investigation. Hussin said the suspect is considered an undocumented alien since he could not present his passport or any other valid immigration document. According to Epifanio Lambino Jr., BI-Trafficking in Persons Unit (TIPU) head, the Korean last entered the country on March 19, 2006 and is believed to be overstaying. Ledesma created TIPU last December to go after foreigners engaged in human trafficking and human smuggling activities through mostly foreign-funded crime syndicates. — KBK, GMA News