20 Filipinos on board cargo vessel busted in South Korea for allegedly carrying tons of suspected cocaine
The Department of Migrant Workers has confirmed that 20 Filipino crew members were aboard the cargo vessel detained by South Korean authorities for allegedly transporting large amounts of suspected cocaine.
The 20 Filipino seafarers, including the captain of the cargo ship, are now under investigation in South Korea.
"Ang naiulat ay sa engine room na natagpuan. Eto, kasama na ‘yan sa imbestigasyon kung sino ang mga sangkot, kung meron man kasama sa mga tripolante, kung ano man ang mga detalye, kung nasasaan o ano ang mga location at involvement ng bawat tripolante on board,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said in a radio interview on April 8.
Korea Customs Service and Coast Guard discovered 57 boxes weighing around two tonnes of the suspected drug hidden in a compartment within the engine room of the M/V Lunita, as per Reuters.
The ship docked at Gangneung City Port on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula.
While the ship owner has already provided a lawyer, Cacdac said the Philippine government is also sending legal counsel to form the legal team of the Filipino crewmen while assuring that "they are entitled to their defense and currently "presumed innocent."
The Norwegian-flagged cargo vessel originated in Mexico and traveled to Ecuador, Panama, and China before docking in South Korea.
Shipping company J.J. Ugland Companies confirmed that it owns the vessel involved in the incident.
"It is unclear how the drugs came aboard our vessel. We are working with relevant authorities to assist in the investigation, both in South Korea and in other affected jurisdictions," the company said in a statement.
The drug bust was also dubbed "the biggest drug haul in the history of South Korea" after outweighing its previous record for smuggled drugs, which was 404 kilograms of methamphetamine found in 2021.
Drug Laws in South Korea
South Korea is known for having some of the toughest drug laws in the world.
Offenders usually face a minimum of six months in prison, with repeat offenders and drug dealers potentially facing sentences of 15 years or even longer.
The country's strict stance on drug crimes reflects its commitment to maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal substances. (with reports from Mayen Jaymalin, Reuters)
