MANILA - Anti-narcotics operatives have arrested suspected drug lord Kerwin Espinosa in Abu Dhabi, Philippine National Police chief, Director General Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa confirmed Monday.
Dela Rosa said he deployed PNP operatives to Abu Dhabi after some overseas Filipino workers reported spotting Espinosa there.
The alleged crime boss was arrested at around 2 a.m. (Philippine time), the PNP chief said.
He said authorities are preparing the necessary documents for Espinosa's repatriation.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte accused Espinosa of running a narcotics syndicate in the Visayas. He issued a shoot-to-kill order against the suspected drug lord after the latter ignored calls to surrender.
Espinosa's father, Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa, Sr., earlier confirmed his son, also known as "Boss K" in the underground trade, is involved in illegal drugs.
Sources earlier said the younger Espinosa left the Philippines on June 21 bound for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) also said Espinosa left for Hong Kong last June 1, after allegedly undergoing facial plastic surgery.