'Philippines drug kingpin's' supplier 'Cheongdam' Choi Byeong-min indicted

Choi Byeong-min, identified as a key supplier to Park Wang-yeol, a figure known as the 'Philippines drug kingpin,' has been arrested and indicted on charges related to drug trafficking. The joint investigation headquarters for drug crimes announced on May 29 that Choi faces charges including violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Psychotropic Substances).

Authorities allege that from September 2019 to September 2021, Choi operated under the alias 'Cheongdam' or 'Cheongdam Sa-jang' on Telegram. During this period, he is accused of smuggling and distributing narcotics worth approximately 38 billion won, including about 46 kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigations revealed that he sold 3,000 ecstasy pills and about 2 kilograms of ketamine to Park Wang-yeol in September 2020.

Further investigation uncovered Choi's involvement in smuggling approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine into South Korea from Laos across two separate occasions in July and August 2021. He also allegedly used a forged Cambodian passport, obtained through fraudulent means involving manipulated photos, to flee to Cambodia in October 2020. Earlier, in 2016, he had used a forged Taiwanese passport to enter casinos.

Choi is believed to have laundered billions of won in criminal proceeds through nominee accounts and virtual assets, using these funds as escape money while in Thailand. The joint headquarters plans to track and recover these hidden assets in cooperation with the Financial Services Commission's Intelligence Unit and the National Intelligence Service. Choi's personal information, including his age and photograph, has been publicly disclosed following a decision by the relevant committee.