Malaysian Sentenced to 7 Years for Hiding 98,000 Methamphetamine Doses, Denies "Clothes Delivery Part-Time Job" Involvement

Attempted Smuggling of 2.9kg Methamphetamine in Backpack
"I Didn't Know There Was Methamphetamine," Excuse Given

A Malaysian man who tried to smuggle methamphetamine worth around 700 million KRW hidden in a backpack from Cambodia into South Korea was sentenced to a medium-term prison sentence.

The Criminal Division 14 of the Incheon District Court (Judge Ryu Kyung-jin) announced on the 11th that it sentenced a 23-year-old Malaysian national, A, who was indicted on charges of psychotropic substances under the Narcotics Control Act, to seven years in prison.

A was arrested and prosecuted on charges of attempting to smuggle 2.9 kg of methamphetamine hidden in Cambodia into South Korea through Incheon International Airport on August 2. The 2.9 kg of methamphetamine is worth approximately 740 million KRW and is enough for 98,000 people to use simultaneously.

A hid the methamphetamine, which was double-packaged with plastic bags and tape, inside the backrest of a backpack and tried to bring it into the country but was caught during a baggage inspection by customs authorities.

7 Hundred Million Won Worth of Methamphetamine Hidden in a Backpack.
[Image Provided by Incheon District Prosecutors' Office]

In court, he claimed, "I was doing a part-time job moving clothes from Cambodia to Korea," and "I did not know methamphetamine was hidden inside the backpack," denying all charges. However, the court judged that intent was recognized based on the circumstances before and after A’s crime.

The court stated, "Considering that the defendant’s monthly salary in Malaysia was 420,000 KRW, it is hard to believe that he did a part-time job moving clothes for 2.7 million KRW, which is seven times that amount."

It added, "When the backpack containing methamphetamine was seized by customs authorities, the defendant immediately contacted accomplices and even sent photos of the backpack," and "It appears he had some degree of acquaintance with the accomplices."

The court emphasized, "Drug crimes cause serious harm not only to individuals’ bodies and minds but also to society as a whole, so they must be severely punished," and added, "Considering the amount of methamphetamine the defendant smuggled in an organized manner with accomplices, the nature of the crime is severe."

Meanwhile, the number of drug offenders caught from January to October this year reached 22,393, the highest ever recorded. This is a 47.5% increase compared to 15,182 offenders caught during the same period last year. In particular, supply offenders involved in drug smuggling, trafficking, and manufacturing numbered 7,301, an 82.9% increase compared to 3,991 during the same period last year.

During the same period, the amount of drugs seized also increased by 43.2% to 909.7 kg this year, compared to 635.4 kg in the same period last year. This already exceeds the total amount of narcotics seized in the previous year (804.5 kg).

Among the offenders caught, 1,174 were teenagers and 6,580 were in their twenties. The 10s and 20s age groups accounted for 34.6% of drug offenders. This is a 53.8% increase compared to 5,041 during the same period last year.

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