On the 2nd, two Filipino crew members were arrested in connection with the cocaine smuggling incident at Okgye Port in Gangneung.
On the 24th, Director General Yoon Dong-yeon of the Chuncheon District Court's Gangneung branch issued arrest warrants for the two Filipino crew members charged with violating the act on aggravated punishment for specific crimes (drugs).
Judge Yoon Dong-yeon noted, "There is a risk of flight, so grounds for and necessity of detention are recognized," explaining the reason for issuing the warrants.
They are suspected of collaborating with members of a drug cartel in Central and South America to load cocaine produced there onto the ship 'L' and transport it to another dealer operating in Southeast Asia.
They allegedly agreed to receive about 3 to 4 million pesos (about 7.5 million to 100 million won) each and, on February 8, contacted a boat carrying cocaine while sailing from Peru to Panama, receiving about 2 tons of cocaine and hiding it in the ship's engine room.
The ship entered Okgye Port in Gangneung around 6:30 a.m. on the 2nd, in a public state (entering port without cargo) after passing through Dangjin Port in South Chungcheong Province, Zhangjiagang Port in China, and Zhapuhang.
The coast guard and customs authorities, having received information that a ship was entering Korea with suspected narcotics onboard, immediately searched the 'L' ship and discovered a large quantity of suspected cocaine.
The discovered amount of cocaine is valued at about 1 trillion won, sufficient for 67 million people to use simultaneously. According to the Korea Customs Service, this is the largest amount ever based on weight.
In addition to these individuals, a thorough investigation is ongoing into Filipino crew members who have already disembarked and members of the drug cartel.
The next port of call after Okgye Port is reported to be Peru. Until entering Okgye Port, there were several attempts to transfer cocaine to other ships at sea, but they failed due to worsening weather conditions.
In particular, since there are indications of plans to rendezvous with other ships after departing Okgye Port, the final destination is still under investigation. Accordingly, international cooperation investigations are being conducted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Korean National Police Agency, and Philippine investigative agencies.