Drug Delivery in the 'International Express' Era? Caught Ordering 4 Billion Won Worth of Heroin Openly from Cambodia

Heroin smuggled via international express delivery seized by Busan Police. [Image source=Busan Police Agency]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] A brazen drug trafficking organization attempting to smuggle heroin worth 4 billion KRW through international express delivery was caught in a joint operation by the National Intelligence Service and the police.

On the 2nd, the Criminal Division of Busanjin Police Station announced that, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, they tracked the smuggling route and uncovered a trafficking organization that smuggled heroin via international express delivery from Laos to Incheon.

According to the police, two individuals, distributor A (male, 40s) and carrier B (female, 60s), were arrested, while two others, including carrier C (male, 50s), are under investigation without detention. The mastermind D (male, 60s), currently imprisoned overseas, is set to be forcibly repatriated to South Korea.

A and others were caught attempting to distribute 1.2 kg of heroin smuggled via international express delivery from Laos under the orders of mastermind D, who is serving a sentence in a Cambodian prison for methamphetamine smuggling since June.

The 1.2 kg of heroin is valued at approximately 4 billion KRW and is enough for about 40,000 simultaneous doses.

To avoid tracking of the delivery destination through international express delivery, they cleverly shifted delivery locations using burner phones and acquaintances as carriers during the smuggling process.

Mastermind D was arrested by local police in Cambodia last July while attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into South Korea and has been leading the criminal activities from prison.

The police are currently pushing for the swift repatriation of D, who is on Interpol’s red notice.