'162 Suspected of Abduction and Detention in the Kingdom of Cambodia' Under Pursuit... Police to Launch Joint Operation on the 11th of Next Month

[Financial News] The police are continuing to track 218 citizens whose whereabouts remain unknown after departing for the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) announced that, together with the 'International Cooperation Council' launched on the 23rd, it will soon conduct a joint operation with about ten countries, including the Kingdom of Cambodia and the United States (U.S.).
Park Seong-ju, Commissioner of the National Investigation Headquarters at the KNPA, stated at a regular press briefing held at the KNPA in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 27th, "In close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are working to confirm the whereabouts of those whose safety has not yet been verified."
According to the police, as of the 23rd of this year, there have been 513 suspected cases of abduction, detention, or missing persons in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Of these, 295 have returned to Korea, while 218 remain abroad. Among them, the safety of 162 individuals has yet to be confirmed.
Since the 16th, the police have been operating a special voluntary reporting period for those suspected of abduction, detention, or missing persons overseas. So far, 11 cases in Thailand, 8 in Vietnam, 7 in the Philippines, 2 each in Myanmar, Malaysia, and Laos, and 1 each in China and India have been reported.
The KNPA plans to carry out a joint operation with about ten countries, including the Kingdom of Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries, next month to address the ongoing crimes involving Korean nationals in the region. Previously, the KNPA launched a 'Cooperation Council' to jointly respond to transnational scam complexes.
The joint operation will include participation from international police cooperation organizations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), ASEANAPOL, as well as the U.S., ASEAN member states, and others. The goal is to apprehend suspects, protect victims, and freeze or recover criminal proceeds, with the operation scheduled for the 11th of next month.
However, it was clarified that the joint operation does not involve foreign investigative agencies, including the KNPA, directly arresting suspects on site. Instead, agencies will share information on suspects under pursuit and conduct joint investigations or monitoring. The intention is to prompt local authorities to make swift arrests.
Commissioner Park stated, "The investigative authority of each country is equivalent to its sovereignty. It is the same worldwide that our police cannot conduct investigations locally." He added, "The Kingdom of Cambodia has requested participation in initial investigations, such as securing evidence through forensic analysis of confiscated mobile phones from arrested Koreans. The joint operation will include such aspects."
Regarding the task force (TF) that the KNPA agreed to establish with the Kingdom of Cambodia, Park said, "Regardless of the name, such as the Korean Desk, we are continuously discussing real-time information sharing and, if necessary, joint on-site inspections. The most important thing is what role it will play." He added, "Although the local administrative system is relatively underdeveloped, we will establish a 24-hour response system." On reports that the Kingdom of Cambodia requested the extradition of dissidents, he said, "There has been no direct mention to me. Since political offenders are not subject to extradition, the Kingdom of Cambodia authorities also understand this."
The police are continuing to investigate whether there were additional accomplices in the case of a university student who was kidnapped by a criminal organization in the Kingdom of Cambodia and found dead last August. Previously, the police arrested and referred two individuals, including a broker who recruited Mr. A (22) for a bank account used for fraud, for prosecution. Regarding the National Intelligence Service (NIS) statement that an accomplice of the ringleader in the 2023 Gangnam District, Seoul drug case was identified as the main perpetrator in this case, Commissioner Park said, "We are still verifying." The detailed autopsy results for Mr. A have not yet been released.
Additionally, the police are confirming the initial entry circumstances and local roles of 64 suspects who were collectively repatriated from the Kingdom of Cambodia. They are also investigating possible links to illegal private lending and will extend special investigations to expand the probe. The police plan to refer these individuals to the prosecution later this week.
unsaid@fnnews.com Kang Myung-yeon Reporter