Korea Customs Service's Pyeongtaek office worked with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division to arrest the ringleader and an accomplice
The Korea Customs Service has detained a US Forces Korea soldier on charges of smuggling synthetic cannabis into the country, as part of what it described as an investigation that spares no one.
The Pyeongtaek Customs Office said Wednesday it arrested the USFK soldier identified as the ringleader on charges of smuggling liquid synthetic cannabis into South Korea through the US military postal system, and also apprehended an accomplice. Both were referred to the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office in September.
The suspects had hidden 30 bottles of synthetic cannabis — with a net weight of 179 grams — by mixing them with powder inside protein supplement containers in an attempt to evade customs inspection. Officers detected unusual shadows during an X-ray scan of the package, conducted a detailed examination and uncovered the concealed drugs, immediately launching an investigation.
The customs investigation team carried out a controlled delivery operation in coordination with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division. An accomplice was arrested at a US military post office while attempting to collect the package, and the ringleader — identified as the actual consignee — was subsequently apprehended at a residence inside Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek.
The primary suspect invoked the right to remain silent and denied the charges during questioning. Investigators nonetheless established the conspiracy and the specific details of the crime by closely analyzing the accomplice's testimony and chat records obtained through digital forensic examination of mobile phones.
In addition, investigators detected signs of further synthetic cannabis transactions and distribution inside the US military base during the investigation. That information was shared with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, laying the groundwork for a follow-up investigation.
Kim Tae-young, head of the Pyeongtaek Customs Office, said the case was "an exemplary instance of detecting hidden narcotics through precise customs inspection and demonstrating a firm commitment to enforcing the law against drug crimes involving USFK personnel, through active cooperation with US military investigative authorities."
"Going forward, we will strengthen investigative cooperation with domestic and international agencies and continuously enhance our forensic capabilities to thoroughly counter drug smuggling crimes that are growing ever more sophisticated and organized," Kim said.
kwonhl@heraldcorp.com
