Smuggling 1.6kg of Philopon... Enough dose for 53,000 people

Smuggling 1.6kg of Philopon... Enough dose for 53,000 people

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Ji-su = The leader who smuggled a large amount of Philopon was repatriated to Korea and punished 18 years after he fled overseas.

On the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Division's Drug Crime Investigation Unit announced that it had detained and transferred Mr. A, in his 60s, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on charges of violating the Aggravated Specific Crime Act (hypopathy).

Mr. A is accused of smuggling a total of 1.6 kg of Philopon from Manila Airport to Incheon Airport by hiding it in the backpack of Mr. B, a Korean transport agent whom he had recruited in the Philippines, on three occasions from October 2015 to January 2016 while he was staying in the Philippines.

This has a market value of 5.3 billion won, which is enough to administer medication to about 53,000 people.

It was discovered that Mr. A, who was involved in another drug case in October 2008, had been living as a fugitive between China and the Philippines for 18 years.

When this incident was discovered, Mr. A avoided the investigative network by purchasing someone else's lost passport from a local broker and sneaking into China.

On the 8th of last month, the Dandong Public Security Bureau in China detected his illegal stay, and Mr. A was forcibly deported to Korea on the 13th of this month.

In cooperation with the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, the police arrested Mr. A, who entered the Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal on the 14th, and applied for an arrest warrant.

The Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant on the 16th, saying there was a risk of flight.

At the time, Mr. B, who transported philopon from the Philippines under the direction of Mr. A, was arrested upon entering Incheon Airport in January 2016 and sentenced to prison.

A police official said, "Criminals who have been absconding abroad for long periods of time are eventually apprehended through close cooperation between domestic and foreign relevant agencies," and added, "We will continue to respond strictly to cross-border drug crimes by closely cooperating with domestic and foreign related agencies."