Drugs suspected to have been smuggled from a foreign vessel docked in Gangneung City were seized, prompting authorities to launch an investigation. The scale is as large as 1 ton, estimated to be worth about 500 billion KRW, making it the largest ever.
According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, the East Sea Regional Coast Guard and Seoul Headquarters Customs are investigating after discovering drugs on a vessel docked at Okgye Port in Gangneung City. The vessel A, registered in Norway, is understood to have departed from Mexico and entered Korea via Ecuador, Panama, and China.
Earlier that day at around 6:30 a.m., the Coast Guard and Customs received information from the U.S. FBI that the bulk carrier A (32,000-ton class, with 20 foreign crew members) was carrying suspected drugs into Korea. Approximately 90 personnel were mobilized to conduct a focused search of vessel A. As a result, about 50 boxes containing approximately 20 kg each of a substance suspected to be cocaine were found in the engine room warehouse. The total weight reached 1 ton, enough to dose 2 million people simultaneously.
The Coast Guard and Customs are currently investigating 20 individuals, including the captain and crew of the vessel, regarding the source and distribution routes of the drugs. The substances will also be sent to the National Forensic Service for final confirmation. Cooperation with related agencies such as the U.S. FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is underway to expand the investigation, not ruling out connections to international drug trafficking organizations.
Kim Yong-jin, Commissioner of the Coast Guard, stated, "We will strengthen cooperation with the Customs Service and expand collaboration with overseas agencies to eradicate drug smuggling."
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