Prosecutors Indict 'Drug Queen Iris' Returned to South Korea and Detain Her

On the 30th of last month, Ms. A, known as the 'Drug Queen Iris,' who was extradited from the United States, is wearing protective clothing and waiting at the Incheon Airport Immigration Office for a COVID-19 test sample collection.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On the 16th, the prosecution indicted a woman in her 40s suspected of distributing large quantities of drugs domestically under the alias 'Iris.'

This woman, known as the 'Drug Queen,' was arrested in the United States about 3 years and 10 months ago, and it has been about two weeks since she was extradited to Korea.

The Violent Crimes Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Hosam Kim) announced on the 16th that they had arrested and indicted drug wholesaler A (44, female) on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances) and other offenses.

According to the prosecution, A is suspected of operating online under the name 'Iris' and smuggling large quantities of drugs from the United States to Korea using international mail.

The prosecution believes that from January to October 2015, A used the smartphone application 'WeChat' in the United States to order drugs from Korean national B and others, smuggling drugs into Korea 14 times in total.

The smuggled drugs included 95g of methamphetamine (commonly known as 'Philopon'), 6g of marijuana, and other substances worth approximately 23 million KRW, the prosecution explained.

Through analysis of financial accounts and personal networks in 2015, the prosecution identified A's personal information, tracked her residence, requested her arrest in the United States, and extradited her last month on the 30th after about 3 years and 10 months through a criminal extradition process.

After bringing A to Korea, the prosecution conducted a COVID-19 test. Although the result was negative, she was quarantined until the incubation period passed, and after two days of investigation starting on the 13th, she was promptly indicted.

The prosecution stated that they indicted her only on the charges approved by the U.S. court under the extradition treaty and are still reviewing other charges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.