Bangladesh expels N. Korean diplomat for smuggling
Bangladesh expelled a North Korean diplomat who was caught smuggling goods worth nearly $500,000. / Courtesy of Twitter
By Lee Jin-a
Bangladesh has expelled a North Korean diplomat for smuggling goods worth $500,000.
According to the Radio Free Asia (RFA) on Monday, Han Son-ik, first secretary of the North Korean embassy in Dhaka, was sent back to the North after he was caught smuggling in nearly 1.6 million cigarettes and electronic devices.
"The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and soft drinks. But when we opened it up, there were 1.6 million expensive cigarettes and electronics,” said Bangladesh customs official Moinul Khan.
In March last year, another North Korean diplomat apologized after he was caught at Dhaka airport trying to smuggle in nearly 27 kg of gold, worth $1.7 million.
North Korean diplomats are suspected of having abused their diplomatic immunity to smuggle in or out pricy goods as part of efforts to develop revenue sources amid falling cash reserves because of international sanctions over the North’s nuclear weapon and missile programs.