A member of a Yakuza organization, originally from Korea, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for smuggling over 600 kilograms of marijuana intended for domestic distribution.
During a hearing on September 29 at the Suwon District Court, prosecutors requested the court impose a 20-year prison term on the defendant, identified as A, 53.
A is accused of shipping approximately 636 kilograms of marijuana in a shipping container from Lam Chabang Port in Thailand to Incheon Port in South Korea in March. Prosecutors believe A conspired with a drug trafficking organization based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to distribute some of the drugs domestically and intended to transfer the remainder to a Japanese Yakuza group.
Investigators uncovered evidence that A had contacted an accomplice in Spain and planned to smuggle Colombian drugs, indicating connections with international drug trafficking organizations. The seized marijuana is reported to be the largest quantity ever smuggled into South Korea for domestic distribution.
The defense argued that there were issues with the investigation. A's lawyer stated, "The defendant participated in the crime due to debt but acknowledged his wrongdoing and provided information about his accomplices after the investigation began." The defense also claimed that the National Intelligence Service and prosecutors used drug offenders as informants in an entrapment scheme, requesting either dismissal of the charges or leniency.
In his final statement, A expressed regret for his actions, suggesting that another individual had led the criminal activities and that he was reflecting on his conduct.
A has a prior criminal record for drug and firearm offenses. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2016 for importing approximately 956 grams of methamphetamine, a handgun, and 19 rounds of ammunition, and was released in 2022.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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