South Korean authorities have dismantled a multinational drug trafficking operation that was responsible for smuggling methamphetamine into the country. In this operation, three individuals, including a Nigerian citizen, were apprehended.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, in a statement released on Sunday, September 10, 2023, revealed that this drug ring had established networks spanning Cambodia, China, and Nigeria to facilitate the illicit transportation of methamphetamine into South Korea.
This drug syndicate, operated by individuals of Korean, Chinese, and Nigerian nationality, had hubs in Cambodia, China, and Nigeria, respectively. Their activities are suspected to have included smuggling and distributing methamphetamine in South Korea from November of the previous year to June.
During the operation, law enforcement seized 18.7 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of 62.3 billion won ($46.6 million) from members of the ring within South Korea. This quantity would have been sufficient for approximately 620,000 individual doses.
Authorities suspect that 35 individuals associated with the ring in South Korea were involved in the smuggling and distribution of methamphetamine, and thus far, 13 of them have been arrested.
The Korean national responsible for managing the network in Cambodia was captured in that country in July. Additionally, Interpol has issued red notices for the foreign suspects, as confirmed by the police.
Remarkably, all three individuals arrested were found to have previously faced legal consequences or deportation in South Korea due to their involvement in drug-related offenses.
Furthermore, 38 other individuals have been referred to prosecutors for their involvement in purchasing and using methamphetamine supplied by this drug ring.
