Police Investigating 'Drug Smuggling' at Incheon Customs Request Removal of Prosecutor in Charge

Prosecutors: "No Legal Basis"

The police investigating allegations that Incheon Customs officials assisted overseas drug syndicate members in smuggling drugs have requested the suspension of the prosecutor in charge.

On the 19th, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul announced that it had requested the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office to suspend and recuse the prosecutor in charge. Previously, the Yeongdeungpo Police Station had applied twice for search warrants on computers in the Incheon Customs office to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, but both were rejected.

The prosecution believes that the Yeongdeungpo Police Station requested the suspension as a protest against the rejection of the warrants.

The prosecution stated, "There is no legal basis for the police to request the suspension of a prosecutor in charge. We are at a loss as to how to respond."

In January last year, the police arrested Malaysian syndicate members for smuggling 24 kg of methamphetamine upon entering Incheon International Airport. The police are investigating seven Incheon Customs officials on suspicion of assisting the syndicate members in smuggling.