South Korean fugitive in cross-border meth trafficking case arrested in Thailand
A South Korean fugitive wanted in a cross-border meth trafficking case was arrested in Thailand.
Kim Jin Deok reportedly imported 2.9 pounds (1.31 kilogrammes) of methamphetamine worth 131 million KRW from Thailand into South Korea before fleeing to the Southeast Asian country to evade arrest.
He had been hiding out in the capital, Bangkok, where police arrested him in a condo raid on July 7.
Police Colonel Chaya Phanakit of the Immigration Bureau said police coordinated with narcotics officers and South Korean law enforcement to track down the suspect, who was wanted under an Interpol Red Notice.
He said: ‘The suspect had entered Thailand multiple times.
‘The Immigration Bureau coordinated with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board to track him down after receiving information from South Korea that an Interpol Red Notice had been issued, leading to the arrest of this member of the trafficking network.'
Officers searched his room and confirmed that he was the individual named in the Red Notice.
They also found that his passport had expired on May 30.
He was charged locally with overstaying before being handed over to the Immigration Bureau's Investigation Division for further legal action.
Authorities said they were coordinating with South Korea to extradite him, adding investigations were underway into the transnational drug trafficking network.
