"Two Key Figures Including the Mastermind Repatriated to South Korea for Supplying Drugs to 450 Domestic Locations from the Philippines"

Forced Repatriation on Charges of Violating the Narcotics Control Act and Joint Extortion

The National Police Agency announced on the 4th that it forcibly repatriated two individuals, including the mastermind who supplied drugs to about 450 locations in South Korea from the Philippines.

The National Police Agency stated that Mr. A (48, male) was forcibly repatriated on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, and Mr. B (64, male) was forcibly repatriated on charges of joint extortion.

The head of the drug supply organization, Mr. A (center) [Photo by National Police Agency]

According to the police, Mr. A is suspected of distributing drugs such as methamphetamine to about 450 locations in South Korea through domestic fund managers and distributors while in the Philippines. It is reported that the distribution covered various places nationwide, including the Seoul metropolitan area. The drugs seized by the police over three months include 535g of methamphetamine, 476g of synthetic marijuana, 167 ecstasy pills, and 163g of ketamine, with an estimated street value of about 1.7 billion KRW.

The investigation began in February last year when the Criminal Division of Yongsan Police Station in Seoul arrested one distributor. Yongsan Police Station conducted a focused investigation on the organization by sequentially arresting other distributors and eventually identified the mastermind Mr. A, requesting international cooperation.

After receiving the cooperation request, the police requested an Interpol Red Notice for Mr. A. In cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, they intensively tracked Mr. A for two months and obtained intelligence on his hideout in the Philippines. Subsequently, Korean Desk officers dispatched to the Philippines, the Interpol International Cooperation Team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and others shared additional intelligence and local trends regarding Mr. A to prepare for his arrest. On October 18, 2022, in cooperation with the Philippine judicial authorities, Mr. A was arrested at his hideout.

Mr. B is suspected of extorting about 138 million KRW from victims by using force along with accomplices in the Philippines. He is known to be a principal offender as a joint perpetrator. After being issued an Interpol Red Notice, he was arrested in February this year through cooperation between the Korean Desk and the local immigration office.

The National Police Agency evaluated that meaningful results were achieved through organic cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Embassy in the Philippines during the arrest and repatriation process. At the end of April, Baek Seung-eon, head of the Narcotics Organized Crime Investigation Division, visited the Philippines in person to meet with senior officials of the immigration office and requested the swift repatriation of Mr. A.

Meanwhile, the National Police Agency is operating a special international narcotics offender reporting period from the 1st of this month to July 31 to encourage voluntary reporting by Korean nationals involved in drug crimes.

Kang Ki-taek, head of the Interpol International Cooperation Division, said, "Recently, cases of drug offenders fleeing abroad supplying drugs domestically have been increasing," and added, "We will further strengthen international cooperation related to the arrest of drug offenders who have fled abroad to block overseas drug supply."

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