(C) Ministry of Foreign Affairs

It has been identified that about 10 South Korean nationals were arrested and imprisoned this year while transporting drugs from Southeast Asian regions, such as Thailand, to Europe at the request of others, including foreigners.

On December 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a joint task force meeting chaired by Yoon Joo-seok, Director-General for Consular Safety, involving the Korean National Police Agency and diplomatic missions in Southeast Asia and Europe. The meeting discussed recent cases of Korean nationals arrested on drug trafficking charges in Europe and measures to prevent such incidents.

During the meeting, Director-General Yoon emphasized that drug crime is a transnational organized crime. As cases of Korean nationals being implicated in drug transportation abroad are increasing, he stressed that relevant authorities, including MOFA, the Police Agency, and overseas missions, must devise more effective public awareness measures. It was also decided to strengthen cooperation with foreign authorities, including joint investigations into international drug syndicates.

Recent arrest cases show that foreigners often lure Korean nationals by offering flight tickets, travel expenses, and rewards of several million won in exchange for simply carrying luggage. Notably, similar to phishing tactics, there were cases where suspects deceived victims for months, claiming they were introduced by an acquaintance to build trust and avoid suspicion.

In these processes, Korean nationals either did not check the contents of the luggage at all or failed to find drugs hidden in places not visible from the outside. Even if they claim after arrest that they were unaware of the hidden drugs, such claims are often not accepted by local authorities, leading to severe punishment for drug trafficking.

MOFA and the National Police Agency urged special caution, warning that carrying items at the request of others while staying or traveling abroad can lead to serious crimes and legal punishment.

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