Gangneung Okgye Port Seizes Largest Drug Haul in History

A vessel docked at Gangneung, Gangwon Province, has been found with the largest amount of drugs ever seized in Korea.

On the 2nd, the East Sea Regional Maritime Police Agency and the Seoul Customs announced that they had discovered nearly 1 ton of cocaine on a foreign trading ship that had entered Okgye Port in Gangwon Province.

This represents the largest amount of drugs seized in history since 404 kg of methamphetamine was discovered in the country in 2021.

Previously, a joint investigation team had received information from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on the 1st that a 32,000-ton bulk carrier carrying 20 foreign crew members was entering Korea with suspected drugs on board.

In response, a joint search team was formed with 90 drug investigation agents and two teams of drug detection dogs to board the vessel for a focused search as soon as it arrived on the 2nd at around 6:30 AM.

Authorities confirmed that the vessel had been reported to enter Okgye Port empty and was supposed to load export goods such as limestone.

This Norwegian-flagged trading ship is understood to have departed from Mexico and traveled through Ecuador, Panama, and China.

Large quantities of suspicious substances believed to be cocaine were discovered in a hidden room.

While searching the vessel that had been reported as empty, the joint search team found a hidden room behind the engine room.

In this hidden room, 56 boxes weighing about 20 to 30 kg each were discovered. The total weight was 1 ton, valued at approximately 500 billion won, enough for 2 million people to use simultaneously. Customs drug detection dogs indicated that the contents were believed to be cocaine.

According to the Customs Agency, this is the largest amount seized in terms of weight.

The search team immediately conducted a preliminary test using an ion scanner (drug detector) and testing kits, confirming that the contents were suspected cocaine.

The East Sea Maritime Police Agency and the Seoul Customs are investigating the captain and crew of the vessel to determine the source and distribution route of the drugs. They also plan to confirm the composition of the substance by consulting the National Institute of Scientific Investigation.

A Customs official stated, "The quantity seized is too large to be transported by a few individuals," adding, "There is a possibility that an international drug organization is involved, and we may conduct cooperative investigations with the U.S. after analyzing cellphone forensics."

This large-scale drug seizure is a significant case in the history of domestic drug enforcement, suggesting that international drug organizations may be using Korea as a transit point or destination.

In recent years, there has been a rising trend in drug seizures in the country, highlighting the need for enhanced international cooperation and border inspections.

Image source: East Sea Maritime Police Agency, reference photographs for article understanding / gettyimagesbank