Drug kingpin arrested - 90 kilos of meth seized, police say
Police have seized 90 kilograms of meth, the largest single amount to be shipped into Korea. Yonhap
By Oh Young-jin
Korea's "drug king," identified by his surname, Yoon, 62, has been arrested, police said Friday.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said that Yoon, allegedly leader of Korea's biggest drug ring, was suspected of "wholesaling" 22 kilograms in three installments of methamphetamine ― known as meth or speed ― worth 73 billion won ($66 million).
Police said Yoon bought the drugs from a Taiwanese cartel that brought into Korea 112 kilograms, the largest single shipment and enough for 3 million people to use at the same time. The remaining 90 kilograms were seized.
Yoon's courier was also arrested, police said.
Police believe the dealers left the drugs in such places as cafe restrooms and gave details of the locations to clients via chat applications.
The cases against Yoon and he courier will be sent to prosecutors next week and police will try to retrieve the 22 kilograms already being circulated.
Last month, a Taiwanese and six local drug dealers were arrested for allegedly trafficking the drugs.
Donga Ilbo, a Korean vernacular newspaper, reported that the arrests were the result of a seven-month investigation by police in Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
The arrested kingpin has 15 drug-related prior convictions.
He was arrested at a Busan motel where he had hidden after a weeklong stakeout after his location was traced through his mobile calls.