Thought It Was Chocolate, But It Was Philopon... Drug Smuggling Gang Sent to Prosecution

6 Arrested and 10 Sent to Prosecution Without Detention
Main Suspect on Interpol Red Notice

A group based in Nigeria that smuggled large quantities of Philopon in connection with overseas drug dealers has been handed over to the prosecution.

Measuring the weight of methamphetamine scales seized from a Swedish courier. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced that six people, including drug couriers, were arrested and sent to prosecution on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, and ten others were sent to prosecution without detention.

They are suspected of smuggling large quantities of narcotics from Nigeria to South Korea while communicating in real-time with the mastermind A (57) based in Nigeria through overseas messengers.

According to the police, the drug organization based in Nigeria approached vulnerable elderly people online. They deceived them by saying, "We will help you get loans or investment funds in Korea," and then suggested that they deliver gifts to domestic associates, thereby having them transport narcotics. The three overseas couriers arrested in this case were all elderly foreigners.

The group cleverly concealed the narcotics to avoid customs inspection. The Philopon brought from Mexico City was packaged like chocolate. The Philopon smuggled from Toronto, Canada, was sealed inside backpacks, according to the investigation.

In particular, A was found to be well-informed about domestic circumstances and repeatedly committed narcotics smuggling crimes. The police confirmed that three cases of Philopon and marijuana smuggling that occurred between 2021 and 2023 were also carried out under A's orders. Seven Nigerian nationals, including A, have been separately booked for organizing, joining, and participating in a criminal group, and investigations are ongoing. An Interpol red notice for A has been issued in connection with this case.

Philopon concealed in chocolate seized from Swedish courier. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

The police launched a full-scale investigation in March this year and in April, they urgently arrested a Swedish national courier who had received 3 kg of Philopon in Mexico and was staying at a hotel after arriving at Incheon Airport. Along with this, Nigerian domestic distributors who came to a staged transaction site to receive the Philopon were sequentially arrested. Additionally, they seized 6.15 kg of Philopon worth about 20 billion KRW on the market, enough for 200,000 people to use simultaneously, from foreign couriers, preemptively blocking domestic distribution.

A police official said, "We are expanding investigations into domestic drug dealers linked to this case and A's domestic organization members," adding, "Regarding A, who is subject to an Interpol red notice, we plan to cooperate with the National Intelligence Service and the Nigerian Drug Enforcement Agency to arrest him locally and ensure he faces strict judicial punishment."