Chinese Ethnic Group Gang Arrested for Drug Distribution in Korea Linked with 6 Overseas Countries

A group of ethnic Korean Chinese involved in smuggling drugs from six overseas countries and distributing them domestically has been caught by the police. The drugs they brought in are suspected to have been used in incidents such as the Gangnam drug-laced beverage case in Seoul.

On the 22nd, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced that they arrested 37 people, including smuggling ringleader Mr. A, on charges including violation of the Narcotics Control Act, and detained eight of them. Additionally, arrest warrants were issued for two overseas masterminds, and Interpol red notices were requested.

The police began investigating in December last year after receiving intelligence that a sales network composed of ethnic Korean Chinese was distributing drugs in the Seoul metropolitan area. The investigation team conducted undercover transactions with the organization and analyzed CCTV footage, sequentially arresting domestic distributors and users. They testified that they acted under the instructions of Mr. B, a Chinese national mastermind. Mr. A smuggled drugs into the country three times by hiding them in his belongings and underwear under Mr. B's orders.

According to the police, Mr. B, a Chinese national mastermind, was sentenced to prison in April 2019 for methamphetamine possession and other charges and was deported overseas. While staying in Korea, Mr. B learned about the narcotics distribution market and formed an ethnic Korean Chinese criminal group in a cell structure with relatives and acquaintances from his hometown to distribute drugs directly. The police added charges of organizing and operating a criminal group against Mr. B.

To secure large quantities of drugs, Mr. B formed a network with smuggling masterminds from six countries: Cambodia, Nigeria, Thailand, the United States, China, and the Philippines, and purchased drugs. The payment was made using WeChat Pay and other methods to block tracking. The police believe that Mrs. C, Mr. B's wife, who managed funds and distribution, is connected to the Gangnam drug-laced beverage case. Mrs. C is detained at Suwon Jungbu Police Station on charges including receiving orders to sell 1kg from the mastermind of the Gangnam drug-laced beverage case and selling it.

Aside from the illegal cash proceeds of 334 million won received from the Cambodian mastermind, 225 million won was confirmed to have been paid as a purchase price for an apartment for Mr. B's family. The police received a pre-indictment seizure order from the court on August 29. Additionally, during the arrest process, the police seized 9kg of methamphetamine worth approximately 30 billion won on the market.

A police official stated, "The overseas smuggling organization appears to be connected to accomplices in the murder case of the Thai Pattaya gang leader and the Mexican cartel," adding, "We conducted simultaneous investigations into the drug smuggling and domestic distribution organizations, and most of the domestic groups have been dismantled. Furthermore, we will conduct year-round, continuous crackdowns on drug offenders."

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