Drug Smuggling

[Anchor Lead]

The prosecution rounded up drug dealers who had attempted to smuggle in methamphetamine worth over 44 billion won in market value from Malaysia. The drug smuggling routes have become more diversified in recent years, threatening Korea's status as a "drug-free nation."

[Pkg]

Bags of methamphetamine that the prosecution had seized from drug smugglers cover the desk surface. These drugs amount to 13.3 kilograms, enough for 440,000 people to take at one time. They are worth 44.3 billion won out on the streets. Eight Malaysians were arrested and indicted by the prosecution for attempting to smuggle in methamphetamine through the international airports in Gimhae and Incheon from late last year until recently. The drug mules wrapped plastic bags containing about 200 grams of meth around their thighs and abdomens to sneak them in. The prosecution said that Southeast Asian drug rings are eyeing Korea as a new narcotics market.

[Soundbite] Roh Jeong-hwan(Incheon District Prosecutors' Office) : "The social media and internet have created an environment that provide easy access to drugs. Also, Korea has the highest market prices for narcotics in the world."

Last year, the main drug smuggling route had changed from China to Taiwan, but Southeast Asian routes have emerged this year to diversify the narcotics import channels.

[Soundbite] Pyo Dong-sam(Incheon Customs) : "Drug supply channels have diversified. The customs office has set up a new information analysis team to deal with the problem."

The prosecutors are chasing down the Malaysian ringleader that had fled while extending the investigation on domestic distribution networks.