South Korean police arrest 14 in Vietnam drug smuggling ring

South Korean police have apprehended 14 people involved in a drug smuggling operation that brought 20 kilograms of narcotics from Vietnam into the country. The group, including key organizers and couriers, faces charges related to the Narcotics Control Act. Nine individuals have been arrested and transferred to prosecutors, while five others are being processed without detention.

The operation involved importing liquid synthetic marijuana and other illicit substances between February and April. The drugs were reportedly hidden in two rural locations in the Gyeonggi Province before being distributed in small quantities to buyers via couriers. Police successfully infiltrated the network by posing as drug buyers on the Telegram messaging app, leading to the arrests and the seizure of 13 kilograms of drugs from the hidden stashes and couriers.

Authorities are actively seeking the main ringleader of the organization, who has fled the country. An Interpol red notice has been issued for their arrest. Despite the organized nature of the smuggling, police did not apply charges for organized crime, as the members communicated exclusively through Telegram and were unaware of each other's identities.

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We plan to track down the main ringleader of the smuggling organization in cooperation with Interpol.