A Korean national who works as an influencer and show host in Cambodia has been caught by customs authorities attempting to smuggle drugs into South Korea.
The Incheon Airport Customs Headquarters of the Korea Customs Service announced on the 29th that it had apprehended and detained Ms. A (33, female) and Mr. B (33) on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (smuggling).
Travel suitcase (left) sent by Mr. A via air express cargo and drugs hidden inside the suitcase (right). Provided by Incheon Airport Customs Headquarters, Korea Customs Service
According to Incheon Airport Customs, Ms. A and Mr. B are accused of smuggling 11.77 grams of methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice") from Cambodia into South Korea.
Investigations revealed that Ms. A and her accomplices smuggled the methamphetamine by dividing it into five portions and concealing it in pouches and the bottom of a travel suitcase sent from Cambodia via air express cargo.
The Incheon Airport Customs investigation team detected the attempted drug smuggling by Ms. A and others during an inspection of air express cargo in April. The team immediately launched an investigation and apprehended Mr. B at the delivery address for the express cargo and Ms. A at the arrival hall of Incheon Airport as she entered South Korea from Cambodia.
The investigation found that Ms. A, leveraging her experience as an influencer and show host in Cambodia and her familiarity with local conditions, was responsible for purchasing methamphetamine in Cambodia and sending it to South Korea.
Additionally, Mr. B, who was engaged in personal investments such as cryptocurrency and stocks, provided funding necessary for the smuggling and distribution of the drugs, thereby participating in the drug smuggling operation with Ms. A.
Yoo Yongbae, Head of the Narcotics Investigation Division 2 at Incheon Airport Customs, stated, "Incheon Airport Customs will make every effort to block drug smuggling by responding to evolving smuggling methods with advanced detection equipment and new enforcement techniques."
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