Chinese Man Arrested in Cambodia for Supplying Meth to Drug Ring Targeting Seoul Students

A 38-year-old Chinese national has been arrested in Cambodia for supplying methamphetamine to a drug ring that targeted students in Seoul, South Korea with drug-laced drinks, leading to blackmail and threats. The National Intelligence Service of South Korea, working with Cambodian police, apprehended the suspect in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

The drug ring had distributed the methamphetamine-spiked beverages to teenage students in Seoul's Gangnam Ward in April 2023, falsely labeling them as memory and concentration enhancers. The parents of the affected students were later blackmailed with demands for money and threats to report their children to the police for drug charges.

Authorities found 700 grams of methamphetamine, sufficient for about 23,000 doses, at the suspect's hideout in Cambodia. The Chinese man, known as A, had continued to supply methamphetamine to Korea even after the initial drug drink incident and had planned to make a new blue-colored product to distribute in large quantities.

Why this matters: This case highlights the ongoing problem of international drug trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable students. It underscores the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders to combat such criminal activities.

The Chinese supplier is expected to face sentencing in a Cambodian court and could face severe penalties, including the death penalty, for his involvement in the drug-laced drink scam. In a related case, a Seoul court previously sentenced four men charged in the drug scheme to heavy prison terms ranging from 7 to 15 years, including the drug drink maker, Gil (27), who received a 15-year sentence in October 2023.

Key Takeaways

• Chinese national arrested in Cambodia for supplying meth to drug ring targeting Seoul students.
• Drug ring distributed meth-laced drinks falsely labeled as memory/concentration enhancers.
• 700g of meth, enough for 23,000 doses, found at suspect's hideout in Cambodia.
• Suspect planned to make new blue-colored product for large-scale distribution in Korea.
• Suspect faces severe penalties, including death, in Cambodia for drug-laced drink scam.