2 indicted for smuggling in record amount of 'meth' from Mexico

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Two people have been indicted on charges of smuggling 902 kilograms of methamphetamine into Korea from Mexico, in the largest drug seizure ever, prosecutors said Thursday.

A 38-year-old Australian, whose name was withheld, was indicted with detention on drug smuggling charges, along with a 36-year-old accomplice who was indicted without detention, the Busan District Prosecutors Office said.

In collusion with an international crime ring, the Australian allegedly brought in the drug, hidden inside helical gears, on two occasions in December 2019 and July 2020. Of this, 498 kilograms were transshipped on to Australia, according to prosecutors.

Worth about 90.2 billion won ($73.8 million) wholesale, the smuggled drug marks the largest amount ever brought into the country since records began to be kept.

The accomplice was freshly indicted in the latest case after getting a 15-year prison sentence in a previous, separate drug smuggling incident. (Yonhap)