On the Run for 18 Years... Mastermind Behind 5.3 Billion Won Methamphetamine Smuggling Arrested and Referred to Prosecution

1.6 Kilograms of Methamphetamine Smuggled, Enough for 53,000 Doses
Illegal Re-entry with Lost Passport... Captured in Dandong

An overseas mastermind who recruited couriers in the Philippines and smuggled methamphetamine worth approximately 5 billion won into South Korea was apprehended after 18 years on the run and has been handed over to prosecutors.

On the 14th, detectives from the Drug Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested Mr. A, the overseas mastermind of the methamphetamine smuggling ring, who arrived at the Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal, and escorted him. Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

On August 21, the Drug Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it had arrested and referred to prosecution the overseas mastermind, known as Mr. A, who is charged with violating the Narcotics Control Act.

Mr. A is accused of orchestrating the smuggling of a total of 1.6 kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea on three occasions between October 2015 and January 2016, by recruiting South Korean courier B in the Philippines. The street value of the drugs amounts to about 5.3 billion won, enough for approximately 53,000 people to use at once.

Investigations found that Mr. A instructed Mr. B to hide methamphetamine in a backpack and bring it from Manila Airport to Incheon International Airport. Acting under Mr. A's orders, Mr. B personally smuggled the methamphetamine but was apprehended during entry at Incheon Airport in January 2016. Mr. B was subsequently sentenced to prison and served a lengthy sentence.

In contrast, Mr. A evaded law enforcement and led a life on the run overseas for many years. He initially fled to China in October 2008 to avoid investigation in another drug-related case, and was found to have traveled between the Philippines and China since then. After the latest smuggling scheme was uncovered, Mr. A avoided capture by illegally entering China using a lost passport purchased from a local broker.

His 18 years of fugitive life came to an end last month in China. On July 8, Mr. A was apprehended by the Public Security Bureau in Dandong, China, and was forcibly deported to South Korea on August 13. The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Shenyang shared Mr. A's arrival schedule and relevant details with the International Cooperation Division of the National Police Agency. After receiving this information, the Seoul Metropolitan Police dispatched an investigation team and arrested Mr. A as he entered via the Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal on August 14.

The police immediately requested an arrest warrant for Mr. A, and the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant citing the risk of flight and other concerns.

A police official stated, "Even fugitives who remain overseas for extended periods will ultimately be apprehended through cooperation with domestic and international agencies. We will continue to respond sternly to cross-border drug crimes in close cooperation with relevant organizations both in and outside of South Korea."

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