"700 Million Won Worth of Drugs" Smuggling Attempt by High School Student... "Still Young, Don't Reoffend" Heavy Sentence Given

Contacted German Drug Dealer in Dubai for Smuggling
Judge: "Still Young... Urges No Recidivism After Release"

A high school student who attempted to smuggle drugs worth 700 million won into the country by contacting drug dealers overseas was sentenced to a heavy prison term.

On the 19th, the 15th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Ryu Hojung) sentenced high school student A (18), who was indicted on charges of stimulant drugs under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, to imprisonment for 6 years to 4 years.

Under the Juvenile Act, minors under the age of 19 who commit crimes can be sentenced to an indeterminate sentence with upper and lower limits divided into long-term and short-term terms. If the short-term sentence is served, early release may be possible depending on the correctional authorities' evaluation.

Drugs concealed in a pancake machine seized during smuggling attempt
[Photo by Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, Yonhap News]

A was arrested and indicted on charges of attempting to smuggle 2.9 kg of ketamine (worth approximately 740 million won) hidden inside a pancake cooking machine from Germany through Incheon International Airport as international cargo on May 26. Ketamine is a psychotropic drug commonly known as a 'club drug,' and the 2.9 kg A attempted to smuggle is enough for 60,000 people to use simultaneously.

A handed over a Korean address received from B (18), a middle school classmate, and a personal customs clearance unique code received from accomplice C (31), whom he met through social networking services (SNS), to the German drug dealer, thereby having the ketamine sent to Korea.

At the time of the crime, A was attending high school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). He returned to Korea with his parents during the July vacation and was arrested by prosecutors at Incheon Airport. During the trial, he admitted to the charges but claimed that he committed the crime under coercion from the son of a mafia family.

The court pointed out, "The defendant committed the crime with the promise of receiving a large sum of money from the accomplice in exchange for smuggling ketamine," and added, "The role he played in the process was not insignificant, and his degree of involvement was not light." Regarding the sentencing reasons, the court explained, "He admitted his wrongdoing and is reflecting on it, and the ketamine smuggling was detected by German customs, resulting in an attempted crime. Consideration was also given to the fact that he has no prior criminal record."

After the sentencing, Chief Judge Ryu advised A, saying, "You are still young," and urged, "After serving the punishment for your wrongdoing and being released, be especially careful not to commit crimes again."

Meanwhile, accomplice B was recently sentenced to the same imprisonment term of 6 years to 4 years in the first trial, and the prosecution has appealed against this. C is also undergoing a separate trial.

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