I previously posted about a US soldier arrested for smuggling spice into South Korea. Via a reader tip this below article states that the 2nd Infantry Division soldier responsible for smuggling 7.5 pounds of spice into South Korea was the largest drug bust in the country’s history:
South Korean prosecutors have secured a warrant for the arrest of an active duty U.S. Army private suspected of smuggling 7.5 pounds of synthetic marijuana into the country, RTTNews reports.
The soldier, from the 2nd Infantry Division, allegedly smuggled about 3,400 grams of synthetic marijuana – known by brand names Spice or K2 – into South Korea from Hungary and the United States via international air mail between August last year and January of this year, according to an official from Seoul Central Prosecutor’s office.
The Yonhap news agency reported that the quantity smuggled has an estimated street value of $175,500, making this the largest drug smuggling case in South Korea history.
The private will be transferred to South Korean custody on Monday, according to the 2nd Infantry Division of U.S. Forces in South Korea and reported by K.J. Kwon of CNN. [Business Insider]
You can read the rest at the link, but the article says there are five more US citizens to include a former soldier being prosecuted as well. I looked at the ROK criminal prosecutions on the USFK webpage and they haven’t updated anything on there since July 2012 so I do not know if the soldier or any other military members have been convicted yet in this case. According to the Asian Correspondent the police were investigating over 10 other US soldiers involved with this crime that were caught selling the drug in Itaewon. There are also other Americans and foreigners to include an Iranian under investigation as well.
Finally with a street value of only $175,500 you would think there would have been larger drug busts before in Korea?
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7:44 am on October 3rd, 2012 1
“Finally with a street value of only $175,500 you would think there would have been larger drug busts before in Korea?”
First of all…50$ a gram? For synthetic pot?
Sure, if the cops say so.
No, it’s not even close to being the largest drug bust in recent history. Who ever told that to the reporter if full of it.
http://asiancorrespondent.com/22874/biggest-cocaine-bust-ever-in-south-korea/
2:06 pm on October 3rd, 2012 2
Probably just another poorly-worded S&S piece – biggest GI drug bust maybe?
7:43 pm on October 3rd, 2012 3
just more anti-meegook propaganda…
7:56 pm on October 3rd, 2012 4
united states soldiers should be in united states custody not south koreas.
7:57 pm on October 3rd, 2012 5
us soldiers in south korea should be in us custody.
8:11 pm on October 3rd, 2012 6
5. Negative ghost rider. Firstly, I think the Wat of Drugs(TM) in bullshit. That said, if they (these soldiers) broke South Korean law and were not acting in an official capacity AND there is sufficient evidence and proper procedures are being followed we should follow the SOFA. This is a textbook example of a case where South Korean authorities should have jurisdiction to detain, prosecute, and punish US soldiers.
8:25 pm on October 3rd, 2012 7
This has apparently been going on for quite some time.
http://tothemaximusblog.org/?p=1887
US Soldier to be Turned Over to S. Korean Authorities Monday for Importing, Selling Synthetic Marijuana
Posted on July 20, 2012
In one of the most dangerous, politically charged places in the world, a US Army Private has been accused of selling synthetic marijuana to fellow troops, visitors, and military family members.
According to AsianCorrespondent.com Korean beat reporter, Nathan Schwartzman, and several other news sources, including CNN.com, the 2nd Division of the 8th U.S. Army is set to turn over a 23-year-old unnamed private to South Korean Custody on Monday for importation, sales, and distribution of Synthetic Marijuana in South Korea.
According to the Korean JoongAng Daily, if the unnamed private is turned over to South Korean Custody, he will be the first active-duty military member to have ever been held by Korea for drug charges.
Prosecutors also said it was the largest drug smuggling bust involving a G.I. and that they were expanding investigations into U.S. military veterans and incumbent military officers serving in Korea suspected of engaging in smuggling and distributing drugs in the country.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said yesterday they caught the American soldier, currently serving in the 2nd Division of the 8th U.S. Army, for smuggling 3.4 kilograms (7.5 pounds) of a type of synthetic marijuana called “spice” since 2011. The smuggled drugs were worth about 120 million won ($105,360).
American soldiers are protected by the Status of Forces Agreement. Under the regulations, Korean police are prohibited from detaining U.S. soldiers suspected of a crime before they are indicted by prosecutors.
According to an AsianCorrespondent.com article, the soldier was arrested, along with a Korean national and several foreigners, when they smuggled a large amount of synthetic marijuana into an Itaewon hotel in March 2012:
The Yongsan Police Station in Seoul announced on the July 19 that it had arrested 29-year-old Mr. Kim and referred three American soldiers, including 23-year-old Mr. K, a private stationed at Camp Carroll, on charges of selling the synthetic drug Spice in the Itaewon area.
Pvt. K and the others allegedly gave 80 grams of Spice to Mr. Kim after smuggling it into hotel H in Itaewon at the end of March, and sold 490 grams of Spice, which they had purchased for 1.6 million won ($1,516), on four occasions for a total of 9.2 million won ($8,718).
Police are also expanding their investigation to include over 10 other US soldiers suspected of being involved in selling Spice. Police are investigating 24-year-old American tourist Mr. G, Iranian DJ Mr. H, 19-year-old Mr. M, who is the son of an American military employee, and Mr. Kang, a Korean, on charges of either selling or possessing Spice.
Apparently, this was not an isolated incident. The soldier in question had imported more than $90,000 worth of synthetic marijuana from the US and Hungary, using international mail, and had distributed it for sale.
Under the principle of territoriality, American soldiers stationed overseas have to obey the local laws. Spice has been outlawed in Korea since 2009.
According to the CNN.com story:
The private will be transferred to South Korean custody on Monday, according to the 2nd Infantry Division of U.S. Forces in South Korea.
“Since January 2012, the 2nd Infantry Division has cooperated fully with the Korean National Police investigation and the soldier has repeatedly been made available for questioning by the KNP and for court hearings,” the division said in a press release.
“The 2nd ID will work hard to continue reducing Soldier misconduct as we stand together with our ROK allies to strengthen the Alliance and defend the peninsula,” it said.
At least five more U.S. citizens, including a former U.S. soldier, will be prosecuted in the case, and authorities said there may be more people involved in the drug ring.
To The Maximus Foundation understands the sensitive political situation in the Demilitarized Zone between South Korea and North Korea, and cannot imagine a more dangerous situation than having armed US military members on patrol and under the influence of synthetic marijuana. Those troops could, at any time, become psychotic and cause a very serious diplomatic incident.
We also understand the painful position of the US Military and Diplomatic Corps in making the decision to turn over US citizens for prosecution in a foreign court, especially members of the US Military.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those accused.
Thoughts and prayers????
US soldiers in Korea arrested for smuggling synthetic marijuana
By Nathan Schwartzman Jul 19, 2012 9:49PM UTC
Update: Korean authorities are saying that as a result of this case they will begin more intensive screening of international mail going to US troops.
Prosecutors have rounded up a group of American soldiers for smuggling the synthetic drug Spice into the country and selling it.
Prosecutors have received arrest warrants for the soldiers. It appears to be the largest case of American soldiers being arrested in Korea for drug crimes.
The major crimes division of the Seoul Central Prosecutor’s Office announced on the 19th that it was investigating 22-year-old Mr. A, a member of the Second Infantry Division, for allegedly using international mail on several occasions to secretly bring in synthesized marijuana (JWH-122,210).
In March prosecutors indicted 21-year old Mr. B, an American soldier serving with Mr. A, and his 23-year-old friend Ms. C.
According to prosecutors, on six occasions from August of last year until January of this year the group received international mail from the United States and Hungary containing 3,480 grams of the so-called “Spice”, a form of synthesized marijuana.
Spice is smoked by people in 0.5 to 1 gram amounts, making the amount they brought in enough for up to 7,000 people with a value of 110 million won.
They were found to have sold the synthesized marijuana to othe American military members and foreigners living in Korea. 30 grams could be obtained for $100 (approximately 110,000 won) but could be sold for 10 times that amount.
Prosecutors believe they also sold to Koreans but have not confirmed any specific examples.
The drug is 5 times more powerful than ordinary marijuana and the effects of smoking it once last six to eight hours. With its inexpensive price, it is increasingly popular amoung foreigners and international students. Our country classified Spice as an illegal drug in 2009 and has been strictly enforcing the law.
8:40 pm on October 3rd, 2012 8
” The smuggled drugs were worth about 120 million won ($105,360).”
“The Yonhap news agency reported that the quantity smuggled has an estimated street value of $175,500, making this the largest drug smuggling case in South Korea history.”
As I was saying, BS.
#3,
That or shoddy research. Either way, I classify Yonhap in the same group as Xinhua and RT. It’s not as blatant, but the bias is palpable.
8:45 pm on October 3rd, 2012 9
If it had have been the States it would be like $8 million in street value. Especially if the ATF were involved.
8:50 pm on October 3rd, 2012 10
$175k for 7.5 lbs of weed? I know that’s a lot of weed but it’s not 175k worth. Also 175k is their biggest drug bust ever? Maybe for the Military (even that I’d doubt) but not for Korea come on now.
9:41 pm on October 3rd, 2012 11
Lest we forget: http://view.koreaherald.com/kh/view.php?ud=20120315001218&cpv=0
Prosecutors apprehended seven Korean-Americans, including two lawyers, on drug-related charges on Thursday.
According to Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, a corporate lawyer, a native-speaking English teacher, and two others were indicted on charges of marijuana possession with intent to sell.
The lawyer was found to have habitually smoked marijuana between January and August last year, and sold roughly 12 million won ($10,600) worth of the drug on 16 separate occasions, said prosecutors.
According to prosecutors, the teacher sold 5.3 million won worth of marijuana from December 2010 to February of this year, and was in possession of 55 grams of cocaine and 40 ecstasy pills.
The teacher worked in Gangwon Province from 2007 before moving to Seoul and teaching kindergarten students from 2009.
Prosecutors say that the teacher purchased the marijuana from a 24-year-old Korean-American currently in a gang in the U.S.
Prosecutors also believe the teacher may be a “professional” drug dealer considering that he was in possession of a digital scale and other drugs.
Prosecutors reported that another lawyer who worked with the first lawyer at a conglomerate here, smoked marijuana with Park on four occasions between June and November of last year.
The two lawyers were released from their jobs after being apprehended.
The second lawyer was booked without detention.
Prosecutors have also indicted a 23-year-old on leave of absence from a U.S. university, and a 33-year-old part-time actor, for selling marijuana on up to eight separate occasions.
Two Korean-American university students were also booked without detention for selling marijuana on two occasions.
According to data from the Korea Customs Service, 25 percent of smugglers caught in 2011 were from the United States. Marijuana accounted for 7 percent of all drugs confiscated the same year.
In 2011, the National Police Agency apprehended 243 foreigners on drug-related charges, down from 858 in 2010. Figures were not released for total drug-related arrests of foreigners and Koreans for last year, but the figure was 9,732 in 2010.
3:16 am on October 4th, 2012 12
And, technically, digging a tunnel in order to steal beer from the USFK was drug smuggling, wasn’t it? How many hundreds of thousands of dollars of beer did they smuggle out?
4:52 am on October 4th, 2012 13
#11,
Hey dummy, that bust was only worth $10,000, versus your $175,000. There’s no comparison.
4:57 am on October 4th, 2012 14
Get caught for the worst drug bust in Korean history, and it’s another “anti meegook propaganda” and all kinds of other excuses. You guys are just killing me.
5:50 am on October 4th, 2012 15
#14,
Did you bother to check the link I gave? Just a few years back, they got 8kg of cocaine. I’m sure an aficionado like you knows that 8kg of coke is worth a lot more than 3kg of fake pot.
6:14 am on October 4th, 2012 16
Teadrinker, don’t bother giving Tom facts, he’s content using the ones Peking gives him…
7:16 am on October 4th, 2012 17
+1
4:00 pm on October 4th, 2012 18
You won’t see a final list of defendants until the day of the trial because they are trying to get them to testify against each other, and others. They want to know the identity of “Mr. Big.”
6:50 pm on October 4th, 2012 19
#18,
As if some kingpin is involved in a Mickey Mouse operation like that.