Elderly Korean drug suspect returned home after 22 years on the run
A man in his 80s accused of moving over five tonnes of cocaine was flown back to South Korea from Ghana after more than two decades evading capture.
South Korean police announced that an octogenarian suspected of transporting 5,385 kilograms of cocaine for a trafficking network was returned to the country after 22 years abroad. The man, who oversaw a deep-sea fishing vessel that made five separate deliveries in international waters off South America from 2002 to 2004, fled to Ghana following the arrest of his accomplices and remained there without legal status. The Busan Coast Guard added him to Interpol’s wanted list, prompting information sharing that enabled Ghanaian authorities to deport him on Oct. 20.
The Korean National Police Agency said the seized cocaine was estimated at about 4.8 trillion won, or US$3.6 billion. His repatriation underscores ongoing cross-border collaboration in combating large-scale drug trafficking.
Why it matters
The case highlights international law-enforcement cooperation against high-value drug trafficking networks.
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