Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office Finds Customs Officials Not Guilty in 'Drug Smuggling Allegations'... Baek Hae-ryong Claims 'Prosecutors Covered Up the Case' (Comprehensive)

The Joint Investigation Team at the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office announced interim findings on the 9th, concluding that allegations of Incheon Airport Customs officials' involvement in drug smuggling and claims of investigative interference by police and Korea Customs Service (KCS) leadership were unfounded. However, Baek Hae-ryong, the police superintendent who raised the allegations, strongly objected, insisting that prosecutors had been aware of customs involvement but covered up the case. Ongoing conflict between the parties is expected.
According to the Joint Investigation Team, customs officials were initially suspected of conspiring with Malaysian drug smugglers on January 27, 2023, to help them bypass Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs quarantine and pass through customs screening, thereby facilitating the smuggling of approximately 24 kg of methamphetamine. However, after reviewing airport surveillance footage, letters exchanged between smugglers, and evidence of recanted statements, the team determined that the smugglers' testimonies were unreliable. A team official explained, 'During the investigation, all smugglers admitted there was no assistance from customs officials.'

In fact, police surveillance footage from Incheon Airport captured smuggler A instructing accomplice B in Malaysian, which the police could not understand, to give false testimony. Later, while in detention, smuggler A wrote in a letter to the accomplice, 'I did not remember anything related to customs, but since the police said I could not change my statement, I kept my original testimony,' thereby admitting to the false statement.
The central issue of whether the smugglers passed through 'Customs Checkpoints 4 and 5' was also found to be untrue. The smugglers initially claimed to have passed through the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs quarantine checkpoint, but when police challenged this, they arbitrarily changed their story to specify open customs checkpoints.
The Joint Investigation Team also rejected claims that the leadership of Yeongdeungpo Police Station, Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), and Korea Customs Service (KCS) exerted external pressure by delaying briefings, revising press releases, or ordering case transfers. The team stated, 'Since there was no involvement by customs officials, there was neither motive nor necessity for external pressure, and there was no evidence of intervention by the Office of the President of South Korea.'
In fact, to verify any involvement by the Office of the President of South Korea, the team conducted searches at 30 locations, including the residences and offices of suspects, the Korean National Police Agency, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Incheon Customs. They also conducted forensic analysis on 46 mobile phones and reviewed emails, messenger records, and call logs. No evidence was found of any contact between the suspects and individuals related to the Office of the President.
The team further explained, 'The instructions to delay briefings and revise materials were legitimate orders from higher police authorities in accordance with public relations regulations, and the review of case transfers was also a lawful directive in line with internal police standards.'
During the investigation, the team confirmed that 16 Malaysian syndicate members smuggled a total of approximately 121.5 kg of methamphetamine into the country over 15 attempts between January and September 2023. Six syndicate members arrested in Korea and two Korean distributors were indicted for organized crime activities and violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (narcotics). Arrest warrants were issued for eight syndicate members abroad, and a red notice was requested from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL). While the team has closed the cases regarding customs involvement and investigative interference, they will continue to investigate allegations of prosecutorial cover-up and concealment, as well as suspicions involving Kim Keon Hee's family in drug smuggling.

This interim announcement was based on the findings of the investigation team led by Yoon Guk-gwon. Since the launch of the Joint Investigation Team, Baek Hae-ryong has refused to cooperate, labeling the team an 'illegal organization.'
Immediately after the prosecution's announcement, Baek Hae-ryong directly refuted, stating, 'The prosecution covered up the case despite knowing about the customs officers' ties to the smuggling ring.' He also revealed that he had applied for search and verification warrants for six agencies: Korea Customs Service (KCS), Incheon Airport Customs, Gimhae Customs, Seoul Main Customs, Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
The search warrant application submitted by Baek Hae-ryong reportedly states that Malaysian syndicate members entered Korea 13 times between January and February 2023 alone, smuggling over 120 kg of methamphetamine concealed on their bodies or in their belongings. He also raised suspicions of additional smuggling attempts using wooden cutting boards and air cargo between July and September 2023, claiming that prosecutors downplayed or ignored these records.
yesji@fnnews.com Kim Ye-ji Reporter