According to sources, Espinosa arrived in Abu Dhabi using an authentic Philippine passport on August 1 via Etihad Airways flight 833 from Hong Kong.
The Philippines' number two most wanted person on illegal drugs has been arrested by Abu Dhabi police on Sunday night, following a week-long pursuit.
Kerwin Espinosa, 36, whose real name is Rolan Eslabon Espinosa, is the biggest drug lord in Eastern Visayas and No. 2 on the Philippines' most wanted list, senior superintendent Albert Ferro, acting director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group, told Khaleej Times.
"The arrest was made possible following a tipoff from the UAE," Ferro said in an exclusive interview with Khaleej Times. "A local guy has seen Espinosa on Filipino channel news and gave an anonymous tip to the Philippine police."
"Our chief (PNP director general Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa) then coordinated with the Abu Dhabi Police to process the information and a team led by me was dispatched here last week to execute the arrest," Ferro continued.
Dubai Police - who were working with their counterparts in Abu Dhabi - confirmed the arrest.
According to sources, Espinosa arrived in Abu Dhabi using an authentic Philippine passport on August 1 via Etihad Airways flight 833 from Hong Kong. He got a three-month visa issued on July 2016 from 7Wonders Tourism based in Dubai with a generic "sales representative" as his profession.
Espinosa, whose father (Rolando Espinosa Sr.) is the town mayor of Albuera, Leyte in southern Philippines, allegedly left the Philippines for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on June 21, nine days before the inauguration of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
Mayor Espinosa, who surrendered to authorities on August 2, has admitted that his son is into the illegal drug trade but the younger Espinosa has gone into hiding, reportedly transiting from Malaysia to Singapore and Hong Kong.
He (Kerwin) has also ignored several pleas for him to surrender from his father who is now detained at the sub-provincial jail in Baybay City, Leyte, following his arrest on October 5 after a police raid on his house yielded more than 11 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as shabu) and several unlicensed guns. The mayor, who was arraigned on October 12, pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal possession of firearms.
Meanwhile, Philippine police filed cases against several government officials and civilians linked to the illegal drug operation of Espinosa. Authorities said at least 84 government officials, including a senator and policemen, and more than 150 civilians, including three journalists, are involved in the drug syndicate.
The tale of Philippines' Pablo Escobar
September 7, 1980 - Rolan Eslabon Espinosa was born in Cebu City
April 2011 - He was arrested over the attempted murder of a local official but was released on bail
March 5, 2015 - He was again arrested in a drug raid in Ormoc City, Leyte but managed to get released
May 2016 - Rodrigo Duterte was elected 16th president of the Philippines. He vowed an intensified crackdown on illegal drugs
June 21, 2016 - Nine days before the inauguration of Duterte, Espinosa allegedly left the Philippines for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
August 1, 2016 - Espinosa arrived in Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways from Hong Kong
August 2 - Mayor Espinosa surrendered to Philippine police chief director-general Ronald de la Rosa. The mayor stayed at the general's residence for "fear of his life."
August 10 - Six people were killed and high-powered firearms were recovered in an encounter in Albuera, Leyte. Philippine police said it happened outside the house of the mayor .
August 16 - Mayor Espinosa returned to Albuera and stayed at the town hall under police protection
August 19 - Vehicles, including brand new luxury cars allegedly owned by Kerwin, have been surrendered to police in Leyte.
September 23 - The alleged right-hand man of (Kerwin) Espinosa surrendered and turned over to the police Dh1.81m (P24 million) worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (locally known as shabu)
October 12 - Police filed cases against several government officials and civilians linked to the illegal drug operation of Espinosa. Authorities said at least 84 government officials, including a senator and policemen, and more than 150 civilians, including three journalists, are involved in the drug syndicate.
October 16 - Abu Dhabi police arrested Kerwin Espinosa
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