13 Arrested for Smuggling, Distributing, Selling, and Using Methamphetamine Worth Billions

6 People Detained, 7 People Booked Without Detention

A group involved in smuggling, distributing, and selling narcotics from overseas, as well as those who purchased and used them, were caught by the police.

The Changwon Jungbu Police Station in Gyeongnam announced on the 16th that they arrested 13 individuals, both foreigners and Koreans, suspected of violating the Narcotics Control Act, detaining 6 and booking 7 without detention.

Methamphetamine and storage containers seized by the police. Provided by Changwon Jungbu Police Station, Gyeongnam.

According to the police, two drug suppliers in their 20s, Mr. A and Mr. B, are suspected of smuggling 2.5 kg of methamphetamine from the United States around September this year and selling it.

They secretly hid the smuggled methamphetamine in mountain areas or coastal regions in Busan and Changwon, and Mr. B sold part of it to three people including Mr. C at an entertainment establishment he operated.

Mr. C and two others are suspected of using the purchased drugs together with Mr. B and six others at entertainment establishments exclusively for Vietnamese people in Changwon and Jinju.

Two individuals who helped Mr. A conceal and transport the methamphetamine were also arrested by the police.

Methamphetamine spoon and scale seized by the police. Provided by Changwon Jungbu Police Station, Gyeongnam.

On October 16, the police arrested two key suppliers, including Mr. A, and seized 1,668 kg of methamphetamine worth approximately 5.6 billion KRW that they had hidden.

Subsequently, from October 22 to November 27, the police conducted intensive investigations and arrested the members of the group one by one.

The police are expanding the investigation to include users and plan to continue focused crackdowns on narcotics crimes in clubs and entertainment establishments until the end of the year.

A police official stated, “We will thoroughly protect the identities of those who report narcotics crimes and provide rewards for tips,” and urged, “We ask citizens to actively report any information related to narcotics crimes.”

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