A man in his 30s who operated a drug sales channel under the direction of the Philippine leader was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

(Suwon = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Sol = The Public Prosecution Service requested a heavy sentence for a man in his 30s who ran the Telegram drug sales channel ‘Labubu’ under the command of a Korean leader imprisoned in a philopon detention center.

At the hearing held on the 4th by the 11th Criminal Division of the Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Song Byeong-hoon) to decide charges such as violation of the Act on Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes against Channel Operator A, the Public Prosecution Office requested the court to sentence the defendant to 10 years in prison and an additional fine of 45,027,393 won.

Mr. A was arrested and indicted on charges of directly selling 3.4 million won worth of methamphetamine in Korea while operating a drug sales channel called 'Labubu' with 230 full-time members from December of last year to July of this year, under the direction of Mr. B, a Korean incarcerated in the Bicutan detention facility in the Philippines.

He is also accused of distributing 20 million won worth of drugs in residential areas through a transport method (draper), known as a 'coordinate' method, by breaking them up and hiding them, and supplying 26 million won worth of drugs to other dealers.

At the trial on this day, Mr. A said in his final statement, "I deeply regret and reflect on my actions that I should not have done due to my greed for money. When I return to society, I will inform those around me of the dangers of drugs and live transparently. I am sorry to the victims."

Previously, in the process of investigating Mr. A, the Government Joint Investigation Headquarters for Drug Crimes identified 14 Korean leaders imprisoned in a detention center in the Philippines, including Mr. B.

Currently, this case is being investigated by the Suwon Regional Serious Crime Investigation Office's Narcotics Joint Investigation Division, and domestic procedures are being taken to request extradition of the 12 leaders from the Philippine authorities.

Mr. A's sentencing hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on the 4th of next month.