A man in his 40s who smuggled five types of drugs worth around 200 million won from the United States hidden in a travel suitcase into South Korea was sentenced to a heavy prison term.
The Criminal Division 15 of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Hojung) announced on the 8th that A (49), who was indicted on charges of methamphetamine under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and marijuana under the Narcotics Control Act, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
A is accused of smuggling five types of drugs, including 1 kg of methamphetamine, through Incheon International Airport on May 15.
Investigations revealed that five days before the crime, he contacted an accomplice via Telegram, then departed for Las Vegas, USA, and collected drugs hidden by a delivery agent in a local hotel parking lot to transport them into South Korea.
A hid the drugs in plastic supplement containers or shampoo bottles and concealed them in travel suitcases, but was caught by customs authorities at Incheon Airport.
The drugs he smuggled included not only methamphetamine but also 1 kg of ketamine and 1 kg of marijuana oil, with a wholesale value of approximately 230 million won.
A committed the crime to repay gambling debts and acted as a so-called 'jigegun' (carrier) for transporting drugs, agreeing to receive 10 million won from an accomplice.
The court stated, "The defendant received money from higher-ups and imported five types of drugs, which is a serious offense. The circumstances after the crime are also unfavorable, such as deleting the messaging application used to communicate with accomplices."
However, the court also noted, "The defendant admitted wrongdoing and showed remorse, and the drugs were seized and did not circulate in the market. Consideration was also given to the fact that there is no prior record of the same crime," explaining the sentencing rationale.
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