SEOUL, May 2 (Korea Bizwire) — A group of more than 20 North Korean defectors and ethnic Korean-Chinese people have been indicted here on charges of smuggling methamphetamine believed to be produced in the North into South Korea for sale or personal consumption, South Korean prosecutors said on Sunday, noting they have found circumstantial evidence of North Korean residents’ involvement in the crime.
“Some of the defectors said they did not realize that the smuggling and consumption of Philopon are serious crimes” (image: Yonhap)
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said it has indicted a total of 23 suspects, including North Korean defectors living here and ethnic Koreans in China, with or without detention for smuggling the illegal drug into South Korea and seized about 810.7 grams of meth, or 27,000 doses. Meth, which can trigger side effects such as paranoia, hallucinations, delirium and delusions, is banned in South Korea.
All told, 16 North Korean defectors were referred to trial.
Seoul prosecutors say the seized drugs were mostly supplied by ethnic Koreans living in Chinese areas near the North Korean border.
The prosecutors said they have secured testimony from some defectors that much of the smuggled meth was produced in Hamhung, Chongjin and other areas in North Korea’s Hamgyong Province before being transported to Dandong, China, or being traded across the Tumen River through local brokers.
They suspect that the seized meth was processed into fine, white powder and may be produced in North Korea, pointing at the possibilities of existing drug smuggling routes between the North and South via China.
Among the detainees is a North Korean defector surnamed Choi, who allegedly snuck 140 grams of meth into the South. Choi is suspected of selling 120 grams to other North Korean defectors here. The defector most likely purchased the drug from North Koreans at the North Korea-China border near the Tumen River, the prosecutors said.
Another North Korean defector, surnamed Cho, purchased the drug from an ethnic Korean in Dandong, northwestern China, and sold it to his fellow defectors.
The prosecutors found that the drug is casually consumed by many North Korean defectors. According to the defectors, Philopon is considered to be a common commodity that replaces painkillers and is given as a gift in weddings and other congratulatory family events.
“Some of the defectors said they did not realize that the smuggling and consumption of Philopon are serious crimes,” a prosecutor said.
(Yonhap)
