The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Sat, March 6, 2021 | 11:54
Law & Crime
Philippines drug runners smuggle 1.6 kilograms of 'philopon' into South Korea
Posted : 2017-12-08 17:48
Updated : 2017-12-09 20:19
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
The first son of Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil arrives at Seoul Central District Court Sept. 19 for questioning about his alleged smuggling of four grams of ‘philopon' into Korea from China. / Korea Times file
The first son of Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil arrives at Seoul Central District Court Sept. 19 for questioning about his alleged smuggling of four grams of ‘philopon' into Korea from China. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

The first son of Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil arrives at Seoul Central District Court Sept. 19 for questioning about his alleged smuggling of four grams of ‘philopon' into Korea from China. / Korea Times file
Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office staff with ‘philopon' found hidden in a container of instant rice. / Korea Times file
The authorities found a packet containing 146 grams of philopon (methamphetamine) being smuggled inside a wooden sculpture from the Philippines in May this year. Drug runners from the Southeast Asian country were working with distributors in South Korea.

The discovery of the illegal substance was just a small part of the 1.63 kilograms of methamphetamine smuggled from the Philippines into South Korea so far this year.

Southeast Asian countries were the source of a record amount of methamphetamine trafficked into South Korea, Incheon District Prosecutors' Office said Thursday. The announcement was based on the amount of illegal drugs seized between January and November.

The main source was the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte has waged a brutal war against drug users and dealers. The next major source was Cambodia with 1.18 kilograms, Taiwan with one kilogram, China with 0.59 of a kilogram and Thailand with 0.37 of a kilogram.

A total of 3.18 kilograms of drugs have been smuggled into South Korea from Southeast Asia this year that could be used by about 160,000 local users.

As well as methamphetamine, the authorities also seized 1.05 kilograms of cannabis, 3,137 "yaba" and 476 ecstasy pills. Fifty-three people were charged.

Officials say the increasing number of migrant workers from Southeast Asia is behind the rise in illegal drugs. Online dealing between buyers in South Korea and sellers in Southeast Asia also contributed.

"With Incheon International Airport's second terminal expected to be completed next year, illegal drug smuggling via the airport is likely to rise," a prosecutors' office official said. "Modern detection equipment and an increase in the number of investigators will be mobilized to deal with this situation."


Emailaoshima11@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • 279 caught for spreading disinformation on COVID-19 vaccines
  • Seoul encourages foreign residents to take COVID-19 tests
  • Medical experts warn against excessive fears of the COVID-19 vaccine
  • Animal rights activists dump coconuts in front of Thai embassy, criticizing forced monkey labor
  • Fire engulfs old Buddhist temple in southwestern region
  • South Korea approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine
  • [INTERVIEW] Author of 'comfort women' series urges world to hear their testimonies
  • US International Trade Commission reaffirms ruling in favor of LG over SK in battery feud
  • Ruling party chairman egged by woman protesting new theme park project in Chuncheon
  • Main opposition fails to capitalize on by-election advantage
  • Stars accused of school bullying paying price Stars accused of school bullying paying price
  • Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects Snowballing bullying scandal deals blow to TV series projects
  • Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action Global K-pop fans unite forces at Kpop4Planet for climate action
  • Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use Rapper Killagramz apologizes over marijuana use
  • K-pop fans hung out to dry over Kakao-Spotify music licensing termination K-pop fans hung out to dry over Kakao-Spotify music licensing termination
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright