South Korea arrests man after 8 years abroad over lease-deposit fraud and cannabis sales
In short
Seoul police said on 22 October that a man identified only as A, in his 40s, was sent to prosecutors in custody on suspicion of violating the narcotics law. He is accused of distributing cannabis in Korea while living abroad after leaving the country in March 2018 following a lease-deposit (jeonse) fraud. Police and the National Intelligence Service secured him in Phuket on 12 August.
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Seoul police said on 22 October that they had sent a man identified only as A, in his 40s, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in custody on suspicion of violating the narcotics control law. The announcement came from the narcotics crime investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's wide-area investigation division. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to police, A left for Thailand in March 2018, right after a lease-deposit (jeonse) fraud in Korea, and spent about eight years moving between Thailand and Laos. He was wanted in several criminal cases, including drug and fraud cases. Police said he distributed cannabis in Korea while living as a fugitive abroad. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Police said that in May last year A planned to distribute cannabis at the proposal of a dealer, B, whom he met in Thailand. He is accused of buying 3 kg of cannabis that B's group smuggled in through Incheon International Airport. Part of it was sold to acquaintances in the Busan area through his hometown senior C and his elder brother D, police said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Police arrested C and D in June last year after they received A's instructions to store and distribute the drug, and seized 2.5 kg of cannabis, valued at 375 million won. The outlets reported that this is enough for about 5,000 people to smoke at once. C and D were sentenced to prison and are serving their terms. B was arrested in Thailand in March this year on suspicion of possessing ketamine and is on trial there. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Police and the National Intelligence Service worked with Thailand's narcotics control agency and immigration authorities. They secured A in a joint operation in Phuket on 12 August. After Thailand decided to deport him, an investigation team was sent there. Police arrested him aboard a national carrier flight on the 15th and escorted him to Korea. The Seoul Central District Court issued a detention warrant on the 17th, citing flight risk among other reasons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Dong-A Ilbo quoted Kang Seon-bong, head of the Seoul police narcotics investigation unit 1, as saying the case reconfirmed that criminals who commit serious crimes abroad or flee punishment are pursued to the end through cooperation among agencies at home and abroad. Newsis quoted a police official making a similar pledge, and Yonhap reported that police said they would respond strictly to cross-border drug crime with international cooperation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The case shows Korean police and intelligence officers working with Thai agencies to bring back a wanted suspect. Police said they will keep pursuing offenders who flee abroad, though the documents give no further consequences.
Key facts
- The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's narcotics crime investigation unit said on 22 October that it had sent suspect A, a man in his 40s, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in custody for violating the narcotics control law. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A left for Thailand in March 2018 right after a lease-deposit (jeonse) fraud and spent about eight years moving between Thailand and Laos; he was wanted in several criminal cases including drugs and fraud. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police and the National Intelligence Service secured A in Phuket on 12 August in a joint operation with Thai agencies. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police arrested A aboard a national carrier flight on the 15th, and the Seoul Central District Court issued a detention warrant on the 17th, citing flight risk among other reasons. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Police seized 2.5 kg of cannabis, valued at 375 million won, from C and D in June last year. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A was sent to prosecutors in custody on 22 October on suspicion of violating the narcotics control law, according to police as reported by all three outlets. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A is accused of buying 3 kg of cannabis smuggled through Incheon International Airport by dealer B's group and selling part of it in the Busan area through his hometown senior C and his elder brother D. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- C and D were arrested in June last year, were sentenced to prison and are serving their terms. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- B was arrested in Thailand in March this year on suspicion of possessing ketamine and is on trial there. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What happened to the remaining 0.5 kg of the 3 kg A is accused of buying. The documents say 3 kg was bought and 2.5 kg was seized, but do not say what became of the difference.
- A's plea and name. The documents refer to him only as A and do not report any response from him.