Illegal Stay for 8 Years and Methamphetamine Smuggling... Thai Resident in Korea Sentenced to Prison

34 Million KRW Worth of 1,900 Methamphetamine Pills Smuggled
"Drug Crimes Have a Negative Impact on Society as a Whole"
Third Case of Thai Drug Smuggling Following Incidents on the 20th and 29th of Last Month

A Thai man in his 40s, who was illegally residing in the country and smuggled methamphetamine worth about 30 million won, was sentenced to imprisonment. This is already the third case of drug smuggling by foreign residents in Korea in the past month. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A Thai man in his 40s who illegally stayed in South Korea for about eight years and smuggled methamphetamine worth about 30 million won from overseas was sentenced to prison.

The Criminal Division 14 of Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Ryu Kyung-jin) announced on the 4th that it sentenced Thai national A (45), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes related to psychotropic drugs and the Immigration Control Act, to seven years in prison.

A was charged with smuggling about 1,900 tablets of methamphetamine worth 34 million won from Thailand through Incheon International Airport in Jung-gu, Incheon, at 4:48 p.m. on June 7 this year.

He entered the country in August 2014 under a visa waiver (B-1) status, but despite his stay period ending in November of the same year, he illegally remained in the country for nearly eight years thereafter.

To conceal his illegal stay status, A carried forged driver's licenses and foreigner registration cards and also drove without a license.

The court stated, "Drug crimes have a serious adverse effect on society as a whole and must be severely punished," adding, "The defendant also sold methamphetamine to intermediate suppliers, making his guilt very serious."

However, the court explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "He has shown remorse for the crime, and all the smuggled methamphetamine was confiscated," and "Considering that he has no prior record of punishment in Korea and that his family petitioned for leniency."

Meanwhile, drug smuggling by Thai residents in Korea is not unprecedented.

On the 29th of last month, Thai national B and others were sent to prosecution on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act for hiding methamphetamine in food ingredient boxes, smuggling it, using it, and selling it.

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, 12 illegal Thai residents were arrested in large numbers in the southwestern region of Jeollanam-do for using and distributing methamphetamine and yaba (a mixture of methamphetamine, caffeine, and various hallucinogenic substances).

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