Hidden '130,000 Doses of Philopon' in Canned Coffee...Prosecutors Crack Down on Drug Smuggling Ring

Five Chinese Nationals Including Domestic Import Chief and One Korean Arrested and Indicted
Two Others Detained in Cambodian Prison Also Subject to Interpol Red Notice Request

Prosecutors apprehend a group smuggling 4kg of methamphetamine into the country.
Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Smuggling organization members who illegally imported enough methamphetamine for 130,000 people to use simultaneously into South Korea have been brought to trial.

The Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Dong-jun) announced on the 31st that they had uncovered eight members of a smuggling organization who imported 4 kg of methamphetamine (with a retail value of approximately 13.3 billion KRW) into the country, and prosecuted six of them. For the two detained in a Cambodian prison, they requested Interpol red notices.

The total amount of methamphetamine smuggled into the country was 4 kg, enough for about 130,000 people to use simultaneously, with a market value of approximately 13.3 billion KRW based on retail prices.

They are suspected of smuggling methamphetamine twice between March and April, mainly in the southwestern areas of Seoul, including Guro-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu.

The ringleader, Mr. A (32), along with five Chinese nationals and one Korean, totaling six members, were investigated for smuggling about 3 kg of methamphetamine worth approximately 10 billion KRW hidden inside 10 coffee cans via international express cargo from Malaysia around the end of April.

In particular, Mr. A, acting as both the ringleader and distributor, is additionally suspected of conspiring with two Korean members in their 60s, including Mr. C (61), in early March to secretly bring about 1 kg of methamphetamine hidden inside four coffee cans through the same express cargo into the country.

Prosecutors apprehend a group smuggling 4kg of methamphetamine into the country.
Photo by Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office

The prosecution seized 3 kg of methamphetamine at Incheon Airport customs at the end of April and launched a direct investigation, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of six individuals, including Mr. A, by July.

During the investigation, a video was found on the suspects' mobile phones showing Mr. A opening the coffee cans hiding methamphetamine and weighing the drugs, confirming the additional smuggling of 1 kg of methamphetamine.

Mr. B and Mr. C, who were responsible for overseas shipments of drugs into South Korea, are currently imprisoned in Cambodia for drug offenses. The prosecution has obtained arrest warrants for both and requested Interpol red notices. It was revealed that they continuously smuggled drugs into the country using mobile phones to coordinate with the domestic ringleader and others.

A prosecution official stated, "In the future investigation process, we will break the cyclical symbiotic relationship of drug crimes that connect 'overseas shippers - domestic ringleaders - distributors.'"