Bangkok Post – Korean drug suspect arrested in Chon Buri

Man wanted in home country for shipping meth from Thailand

A South Korean man wanted in his home country drug trafficking has been arrested in Chon Buri province.

Seo Jung Num, 44, was accused of smuggling crystal methamphetamine from Thailand to South Korea, said Police Lt. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, secretary general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

In December last year, South Korean authorities seized a package containing crystal meth hidden in coffee and bean bags that had been shipped from Thailand. The recipient of the package was subsequently arrested.

Extensive investigation revealed that Seo Jung Num was the sender of the package. South Korean police received court permission to arrest the suspect, but later discovered that he had fled to Thailand.

South Korean authorities worked with the ONCB to help arrest the suspect, Lt. Gen. Panurat said.

Investigators tracked him to a hotel in Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district, where he was arrested on Thursday. The ONCB subsequently notified the Immigration Bureau that Mr. Seo was persona non grata due to his involvement in drugs, and asked the agency to consider revoking his visa.

Immigration officials subsequently found that Mr Seo had overstayed his visa.

Pol Lt. Gen. Panurat said his office has been working closely with Korean counterparts to exchange information on cross-border drug crime.

Last year, seven South Korean drug suspects were arrested. This year, five South Korean nationals involved in illegal drugs have been arrested, he said.