Mokpo Coast Guard Arrests Mastermind Behind Smuggling Attempt by a Man in His 40s

Smuggling Facilitation to Stowaway Attempt Detained off Hongdo Coast

Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kwon Oh-seong) apprehended Mr. A, the mastermind behind the smuggling operation, a man in his 40s who attempted to stow away to China on December 19 last year.

According to Mokpo Maritime Police on the 10th, at around 2:50 PM on December 18 last year, a report was received that fishing vessel A had lost its position (V-PASS) and contact near the northeast sea area of Heuksando, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do.

Illegal Immigration Incident Organization Chart [Photo provided by Mokpo Maritime Police Station]

After receiving the report, the maritime police immediately deployed all available forces including patrol vessels and aircraft to the scene. They also conducted inquiries and checked CCTV near Gwiseong Port in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, identifying one rental car and inferred smuggling circumstances, continuing the investigation.

On December 19 last year, the maritime police arrested a rental car driver (land transport coordinator) in Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and on the same day, four people including stowaway attemptor Mr. C and two accomplices who boarded fishing vessel B at Hongdo Port, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do. After investigation, on December 29 last year, three violators of the Stowaway Control Act were sent to Haenam District Prosecutors' Office under detention.

The maritime police investigated the motive and circumstances of stowaway attemptor Mr. C, while identifying personal information of Mr. A, the mastermind behind the smuggling operation who aided the accomplices. They expanded the investigation and imposed an exit ban on Mr. A. Through tracking and undercover investigation, Mr. A was apprehended at a location in Busan Metropolitan City at 9:10 AM on the 9th.

Mr. A, who planned and directed the stowaway operation, was found to have received 200 million KRW in stowaway funds from suspect Mr. C.

Mokpo Maritime Police are focusing their investigative efforts on Mr. A, investigating the details of the smuggling arrangement and whether there are additional participants involved.

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