South Korean ‘sugar cane killer’ extradited from Philippines over drug empire

A Philippine prison was supposed to contain Park Wang-yeol.Instead, according to South Korean investigators, it became his office from which an alleged drug trafficking empire was run, complete with a “VIP” lifestyle, a Telegram alias and a girlfriend summoned to his cell on demand.On Wednesday, after nine years of failed extradition attempts, that arrangement finally came to an end.Bearded, silent and dressed in casual clothing, the 48-year-old arrived at Incheon International Airport near Seoul under escort by plain-clothes officers, his handcuffed, tattooed arms wrapped in black cloth.Reporters shouted questions into the arrivals hall, but Park said nothing as officers guided him towards a waiting vehicle – an understated homecoming for one of South Korea’s most wanted men.This is one of the most notorious cases“This is one of the most notorious cases,” said Lee Dong-un, a lawyer at Infinity Law Firm who previously headed the South Korean Justice Ministry’s international criminal department. “His extradition, although temporary, is quite significant.”