Mokpo Coast Guard Arrests Eight Foreign Drug Offenders in Succession

Apprehension of Entire Drug Distribution Ring
After Eight-Month Undercover Investigation

Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kwon Oseong) achieved significant results in maintaining maritime law and order by apprehending eight foreign drug offenders in succession after an eight-month undercover investigation that began in May last year.

According to Mokpo Maritime Police on the 6th, in response to the increasing trend of drug-related crimes occurring at sea each year, a special task force for cracking down on drug offenders was organized in March last year to prevent maritime drug crimes.

Mokpo Coast Guard is arresting a drug offender. Photo by Mokpo Coast Guard Station

At the end of May last year, intelligence was received regarding Ms. A (in her 30s, migrant woman) who was distributing drugs to foreign crew members, and undercover and field investigations were conducted.

Mokpo Maritime Police, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Service and the Gwangju Immigration Office, identified the identities of an illegal foreign group who were working at entertainment establishments in Gwangju and were administering and selling drugs.

As a result, on July 19 last year, three individuals including Ms. A, who were involved in the sale and use of drugs such as MDMA (Ecstasy) and ketamine, were apprehended. Subsequently, one mid-level distributor was arrested on August 21, and three higher-level distributors were apprehended on September 19.

Additionally, on the 3rd of last month, Ms. B (in her 30s, migrant woman), who provided a location for drug use, was apprehended as the final suspect, bringing the total number of arrests to eight, five of whom were detained and referred for prosecution. During the process, one MDMA tablet worth approximately 4.2 million KRW and 7.6g of ketamine were seized.

A Mokpo Maritime Police official stated, "We were able to make swift arrests thanks to the rapid cooperation system established with various related agencies and smooth information sharing," and added, "We will continue to do our best to eradicate maritime drug crimes."

Meanwhile, Mokpo Maritime Police made efforts to protect citizens from drugs by apprehending 66 drug offenders in 63 cases last year (57 Koreans and 9 foreigners from Vietnam).