Attempts to smuggle drugs through Jeju International Airport continue.
Recently, there have been several cases of drug smuggling organizations taking advantage of the visa-free entry system of Jeju Island to smuggle methamphetamine in large quantities.
The Jeju District Prosecutor's Office announced that on the 23rd of last month, they apprehended a 41-year-old Malaysian national, referred to as A, who attempted to smuggle 2.12 kg of methamphetamine hidden in bed covers, shoe soles, and snack bags from Cambodia to Jeju Airport.
The next day, on the 24th, a 22-year-old Filipino national, referred to as B, was caught trying to bring 2.944 kg of methamphetamine disguised as stick-shaped coffee mix products from Cambodia.
In November last year, a 2.072 kg methamphetamine smuggling attempt was attempted by a 33-year-old Indonesian national, referred to as C, who was arrested while trying to bring the drugs hidden in a travel suitcase.
The total amount of methamphetamine in these three cases is 7.136 kg, which is enough for about 230,000 individuals to use simultaneously.
The Jeju District Prosecutor's Office has prosecuted A and B on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Specific Crimes and has also indicted C on the same charges last December. Notably, C has been confirmed as a member of an international drug smuggling organization, and the prosecution is tracking down his superiors.
Furthermore, the Jeju District Prosecutor's Office has determined that these individuals attempted to smuggle drugs by exploiting the visa-free entry system, based on their analyses of communication records between the defendants and accomplices, as well as flight search and reservation records.
During the period when visa-free entry was temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no drug smuggling attempts by foreign travelers; however, there has been an increasing trend since its resumption. Already this year, two attempts have been detected.
Since the second half of last year, the Jeju District Prosecutor's Office has activated the "Drug Loss" operation and established a cooperative system with local related agencies. Additionally, they are analyzing drug smuggling cases in collaboration with the Jeju Customs and the National Intelligence Service to devise response measures.
Meanwhile, on the 13th, the prosecution requested a 14-year prison sentence in the sentencing hearing for A held at the Jeju District Court's Second Criminal Division.
Image source: Methamphetamine that an Indonesian attempted to smuggle hidden in a travel bag on November 15 of last year / Provided by Jeju District Prosecutor's Office; Methamphetamine that a Malaysian attempted to smuggle hidden in a snack bag on the 23rd of last month / Provided by Jeju District Prosecutor's Office.
