Police Investigating Alleged External Pressure on Customs Drug Probe: "Clarifying Facts with National Tax Service and Others"

In connection with allegations that the presidential office under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration exerted external pressure on the police investigation into suspected drug smuggling involving an Incheon Customs official, the police have launched a fact-finding effort in collaboration with the National Tax Service and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).

On June 23, Lee Hoyoung, the acting commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated at a regular press briefing that, "The specific scope of work is currently under discussion," regarding the progress of the investigation into the case.

Lee added, "(Currently,) after the National Investigation Headquarters reviewed the case, Yeongdeungpo Police Station is conducting a supplementary investigation. Since a joint investigation team with the prosecution is also looking into the same matter, we will determine the direction of the investigation in consultation with the prosecution going forward."

The customs drug smuggling allegations arose when the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul secured testimony in January 2023 that a customs official was involved in the smuggling of approximately 74 kilograms of methamphetamine by suspects of Malaysian nationality. However, it is alleged that the presidential office, senior police officials, and senior officials at the Korea Customs Service exerted external pressure on the investigation in an attempt to cover up the case.

Baek Haeryong, the former head of the criminal division at Yeongdeungpo Police Station, testified at the National Assembly in July last year that Cho Byeongno, who was then the chief of the Public Safety Division at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, requested the removal of references to the involvement of Incheon Customs officials from the press release on the results of the drug investigation.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials also accepted Baek's complaint and launched an investigation. In March of this year, the National Assembly passed a bill calling for a permanent special prosecutor to investigate allegations of external pressure on the drug investigation, but this did not lead to an actual special prosecutor's investigation.

On June 10, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office launched a joint investigation team with the police, the National Tax Service, and the FIU to clarify the facts of the case.