30 caught for 'exporting' lost, stolen smartphones to China, Vietnam

By Rha Hae-sung, Park Si-soo

Police caught 30 people suspected of having smuggled out nearly 200 lost or stolen smartphones. Four were detained over the possible risk of destroying evidence, according to Geumjeong Police Station in Busan.

Police said the suspects “exported” 170 lost or stolen smartphones to China and Vietnam from September 2016 to October this year. They earned nearly 130 million won ($110,000) as each phone sold for 300,000-500,000 won ($269-$448).

The phones included those they stole or bought from taxi drivers who pocketed passengers’ devices.