South Korea Makes Largest-Ever Drug Bust Worth $679.6 Mln At Gangneung Port

South Korea has seized approximately two tonnes of suspected cocaine from a foreign vessel docked at Gangneung Port, making it the largest drug bust in the country’s history.

The illegal cargo, hidden in 57 boxes, has an estimated street value of around 1 trillion won ($679.6 million), which could amount to 67 million doses.

The operation was carried out at around 6:30 am on Wednesday by a joint team from the Donghae Regional Coast Guard and the Seoul Regional Customs.

Around 90 officers were deployed to inspect the ship after receiving intelligence from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The FBI had alerted South Korean authorities that a 32,000-ton carrier suspected of transporting illegal drugs was approaching Korean waters.

The vessel, sailing under the Norwegian flag, started its journey in Mexico and travelled through Ecuador, Panama and China before reaching South Korea.

Upon searching the ship, authorities found dozens of boxes containing tightly packed parcels, each holding about one kilogram of cocaine.

Initially, officials estimated the total weight of the suspected drugs to be around one tonne. But after weighing the boxes, they confirmed it was double the initial estimate, making it the largest smuggled drug seizure ever recorded in South Korea.

Before this, the country’s biggest drug seizure was in 2021, when authorities intercepted 404 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Authorities are now investigating the ship’s captain and crew members to find the origin and intended destination of the drugs.

The probe also aims to identify possible links to international drug trafficking networks, with cooperation from US agencies.

South Korea has some of the strictest drug laws in the world, with trafficking crimes holding severe penalties. Offenders face at least six months in prison, with repeat offenders or large-scale dealers risking up to 15 years or more behind bars.

References: Reuters, Korea Times

Source: Maritime Shipping News