7,000 Korean couriers helped smuggle W2 tril. of gold into Japan

More than 7000 South Koreans are believed linked to smuggling gold into Japan. / Courtesy of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office

By Kang Aa-young

More than 7,000 South Koreans are suspected of smuggling 2 trillion won of gold into Japan in 2015 and 2016.

The Busan District Prosecutors' Office said the criminal ring had transported 40,000 gold bars from Hong Kong to the international airports in Incheon and Gimhae before moving them to Japan. They made at least 40 billion won in illegal profit, mainly from taxes and price differences.

The couriers were lured by offers of free trips to Hong Kong. About 5,000 people were hired in 2016 and about 7,000 in total took part. Hong Kong does not impose a consumption tax on gold. Each courier carries five or six bars.

The smugglers knew it is illegal but took the deal, police said.

The daily amount of smuggled gold reached 200 bars worth about 10 billion won, they said.