Police Expand Drug Crime Investigation Cooperation... NIS, DEA, FBI Join Forces

Workshop Held in Jeju with Law Enforcement and Related Agencies Gathering
Discussion on Strengthening Cooperation, Including Sharing Undercover Investigation Techniques

South Korean and U.S. law enforcement agencies have joined forces to tackle transnational drug crimes.

The National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency announced on April 16 that it held the 2026 Drug Crime Investigation Cooperation Workshop in Jeju. The two-day event, taking place through April 17, brings together the Korean National Police Agency, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the National Forensic Service, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the National Intelligence Service, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of National Defense. On the U.S. side, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are participating.

Park Wang-yeol, who was imprisoned in the Philippines, was repatriated through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the 25th of last month. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The DEA is sharing undercover investigation techniques used in drug crime investigations, and will discuss with field investigators specific ways to effectively utilize the undercover investigation system that will be introduced in Korea in the future.

With the growing importance of investigative cooperation—as demonstrated by the recent repatriation of Park Wangyeol, known as “Telegram Worldwide,” which was made possible by securing key leads based on information held by Korean agencies—the participating agencies plan to share major drug investigation cases that were solved through interagency cooperation. In particular, since the launch of a new interagency consultative body for new types of drugs in February this year, field practitioners from each agency will gather to discuss ways to further strengthen collaboration.

Jung Sangjin, Director General of the Criminal Bureau at the Korean National Police Agency, stated, “This will mark a new turning point in the fight against drug crimes,” adding, “We will do our utmost to restore the daily lives of citizens by combining the information and investigative capabilities of all related agencies.”

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