Director of the National Police Agency's Narcotics Division denies allegations of external pressure in drug investigations, calling it "normal work instructions"

Woo Jong-su, head of the National Investigation Headquarters at the National Police Agency, stated on the 20th that the "(postponement of the briefing, exclusion of the Korea Customs Service, and transfer of the investigation) were normal work instructions" regarding the 'Customs Drug Investigation Pressure Allegations.'

Park Jeong-hyun, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the same day, Woo made these remarks in response to a question from Park Jeong-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during a hearing of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.

Regarding the evaluation that the drug investigation by the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul was a record-breaking achievement, Woo said, "I do not agree," and responded, "While the investigation was well conducted, I do not know by what standards."

Baek Hae-ryong, police superintendent (former head of the Criminal Division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station), explained, "When the lawmakers were briefing, they assumed and questioned that Customs was involved, but there was no mention of that in the press release," adding, "I do not work so carelessly. I only intended to brief about the Malaysian organization."

The pressure allegations in this investigation arose from a case last January when the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul detected that Malaysian drug organization members smuggled methamphetamine into the country through Incheon Airport with the assistance of Customs officers who helped them pass through security checkpoints. Superintendent Baek revealed that before the related media briefing, he received pressure from Cho Byung-no, police commissioner (former head of the Community Safety Department at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency), to "remove the Korea Customs Service from the press release." Commissioner Cho denies any such pressure.