"What's Inside Your Underwear?"... Gang Smuggling Drugs Worth 21.6 Billion Won

Three Arrested and Indicted Including Smuggling Mastermind
Living a Luxurious Life with Criminal Proceeds

A group that smuggled drugs worth approximately 21.6 billion KRW hidden in underwear from Thailand into South Korea has been arrested and indicted. They continued to live a luxurious lifestyle in Thailand with the proceeds from their crimes.

On the 10th, the Busan District Prosecutors' Office Special Investigation Team for Drug Crimes (Chief Prosecutor Park Seong-min) announced that they arrested and indicted three people, including the smuggling ringleader A (31), on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (psychotropic substances).

[Photo by Yonhap News]

The total amount of drugs smuggled by them was 6,576 grams, enough for 217,000 people to use simultaneously. The drugs included 6,468 grams of methamphetamine, 239 ecstasy pills, and 101 grams of ketamine.

The method they used to smuggle drugs from Thailand to South Korea in 11 instances from December 2022 to March this year was by hiding them in underwear. A oversaw the operation in Thailand, while couriers such as B concealed drugs in underwear like panties and bras and boarded airplanes.

Couriers B and C were caught at Gimhae Airport in March, after which the prosecution identified the ringleader and pursued A.

Subsequently, the prosecution dispatched investigative personnel to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in Thailand and, in cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and others, tracked A’s whereabouts, leading to his arrest in Pattaya on June 2.

Drug smuggling mastermind A (31), caught in Thailand.
Photo by Busan District Prosecutors' Office

Following this, forced repatriation procedures were carried out, and on July 25, A was arrested on a national carrier at Bangkok International Airport and repatriated to South Korea.

Investigations revealed that even after B and C were caught, A recruited additional couriers to expand the scale of drug smuggling and distribution.

The prosecution further uncovered that A smuggled 5,500 grams of methamphetamine in 10 additional instances through other couriers and is pursuing the domestic distribution network.

Previously, A had traveled to Thailand in December 2021 and reportedly began smuggling drugs to fund his living expenses there. He subsequently recruited six acquaintances as couriers and expanded the smuggling operation.

According to the prosecution’s investigation, A enjoyed entertainment while residing in a luxury villa in Pattaya, Thailand, with a swimming pool, paying a deposit of 30 million KRW and monthly rent of 6 million KRW, using the substantial criminal proceeds obtained from methamphetamine smuggling.

In particular, he decorated the villa’s interior like a nightclub, providing accommodation to acquaintances and hiring female hostesses to flaunt his wealth, thereby recruiting couriers.

The prosecution plans to continue tracking and recovering the criminal proceeds hidden locally in Thailand, including drug payments received by A in Thai bank accounts, in cooperation with the Thai Office of the Narcotics Control Board.

Mr. A enjoying nightlife with acquaintances and female hostesses at his lodging, which he decorated like a pub.
[Photo by Busan District Prosecutors' Office]

Meanwhile, among the so-called 'Golden Triangle' region bordering Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, the amount of methamphetamine smuggled from Thailand into South Korea is rapidly increasing. In the first half of this year, the amount of methamphetamine seized originating from Thailand was 69,657 grams, accounting for 43.1% of the total methamphetamine seizures of 161,550 grams, making Thailand the top source country for methamphetamine inflow.

The amount of methamphetamine seized from Thailand surged more than tenfold over four years, from 5,670 grams in 2019.

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