Record 1 Trillion Won Worth of Cocaine Seized, Two Filipino Crew Members Arrested

Caught at Okgye Port in Gangneung
2 Tons Enough for 67 Million People
Court: "Risk of Flight"

Two Filipino crew members have been arrested in connection with the cocaine smuggling case uncovered at Okgye Port in Gangneung.

On April 24, the Gangneung Branch of the Chuncheon District Court (Chief Judge Yoon Dongyeon, warrant judge) issued arrest warrants for the two Filipino crew members on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (narcotics). Judge Yoon stated that "there is a risk of flight, so the reasons and necessity for detention are recognized," explaining the grounds for issuing the warrants.

The two are suspected of collaborating with members of a Central and South American drug cartel, loading cocaine produced in Central and South America onto the vessel "L-ho," and transporting it to other drug traffickers operating in Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

Specifically, they were promised compensation of about 3 to 4 million pesos each (approximately 75 million to 100 million won) and, on February 8, while sailing from Peru to Panama, rendezvoused with a boat carrying cocaine, received about 2 tons of cocaine, and hid it in the ship's engine room.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, suspected cocaine seized from a vessel at Okgye Port in Gangneung the previous day was placed at the Donghae Regional Coast Guard Office in Donghae, Gangwon Province. Provided by Donghae Regional Coast Guard Office

This vessel entered Okgye Port in Gangneung at around 6:30 a.m. on April 2, after passing through Dangjin Port in South Chungcheong Province, Zhangjiagang Port and Zhapu Port in China, arriving as a ballast ship (a vessel entering port without cargo).

The Coast Guard and customs authorities, having received information that a vessel carrying suspected narcotics would be entering Korea, immediately searched the L-ho and discovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine.

The amount of cocaine found is estimated to have a street value of approximately 1 trillion won and is sufficient for simultaneous use by 67 million people. According to the Korea Customs Service, this is the largest amount ever seized in terms of weight.

In addition to these individuals, a thorough investigation is underway into other Filipino crew members who have already disembarked, as well as members of the drug cartel. The next scheduled port of call after Okgye Port was reportedly Peru, and before entering Okgye Port, there were several attempts to transfer the cocaine to other vessels at sea, but these failed due to adverse weather conditions.

The Coast Guard is currently conducting a joint international investigation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Korean National Police Agency, and investigative agencies in the Philippines.