Release of Sinaloa drug cartel suspect from BI custody blocked

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has blocked a trial court’s order releasing from the Bureau of Immigration (BI) custody an Australian man believed to be a member of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel and one of Indonesia’s most wanted men.

Gregor Johann Haas, an Australian national but a natural-born Filipino, has been in the BI custody since his arrest in Cebu in 2024 following the issuance of a red notice by the Interpol upon Indonesia’s request.

In a ruling penned by Associate Justice Apolinario Bruselas Jr., the CA’s Third Division granted the petition filed by the BI seeking to enjoin the Taguig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) from implementing the release of Haas.

On Dec. 20, 2024, the RTC granted his mother’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus, citing reacquisition of his Filipino citizenship.

The CA, however, ruled that the RTC committed grave abuse of discretion when it ordered the release of Haas pending the resolution of the BI appeal.

The appellate court also questioned the timing of Haas’ oath of allegiance to reacquire his Filipino citizenship, which occurred only about a week after his arrest.

Haas is wanted in Jakarta for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs from Mexico.

Indonesian authorities accused him of orchestrating a failed attempt to traffic methamphetamine hidden in floor tiles from Guadalajara to Indonesia.