French ‘drug lord’ nabbed in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - A Frenchman wanted in Australia for allegedly leading a drug syndicate was arrested in Makati City Thursday night by National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents.

French-Israeli Yaacov Amsalem, 43, has reportedly been hiding in the Philippines for the past four years, according to NBI foreign liaison division executive officer Arnold Rosales.

Amsalem, who holds a French passport, was arrested while having dinner in Beni’s Falafel restaurant along Makati Avenue. He was accompanied by a bodyguard when he was apprehended.

Rosales said Amsalem’s arrest stemmed from a request by the Australian government. The local court of New South Wales had issued a warrant for his arrest on Oct. 10 on charges of “conspiring to traffic a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and conspiracy to deal with the proceeds of crime, the value of which is $1 million or more.”

In applying for Amsalem’s provisional arrest, the Australian government, which has an existing extradition treaty with the Philippines, said it is expediting the suspect’s arrest because he is reportedly set to leave for China, a country with which Australia have no extradition treaty.

The provisional arrest order was granted on Nov. 12 by Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Marino dela Cruz.

According to Amsalem, he used to stay in China before transferring here in the country. He said he owns a “disco” in Olongapo.

In an interview with The STAR, Amsalem said he “does not know” what the allegations are about. He also denied being head of a drug syndicate.

“Why didn’t they arrest me before?” he said.