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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on June 10 it seized approximately 50 tons of drug precursor materials in a joint operation with Thai authorities, marking the first time a South Korean intelligence agency has directly targeted an overseas drug supply base.
According to the NIS, the operation followed the arrest and extradition of a Thai drug kingpin, identified as Taphanan, from South Korea to Thailand in April. After the arrest, Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) requested urgent cooperation from South Korean authorities to seize drug materials.
A joint investigation revealed that the suspect had been purchasing precursor chemicals overseas, producing narcotics in the Golden Triangle region, and distributing them to countries including South Korea and Australia. Authorities later identified multiple storage facilities in Thailand used to stockpile precursor materials.
Thai authorities deployed more than 100 personnel from five agencies, including military and police units, while the NIS dispatched specialized narcotics response agents to support the operation.
The joint task force raided 10 storage sites, including locations in Bangkok, and seized a total of 49.98 tons of chemicals such as acetone, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid.
Officials said the seized materials could have been used to produce up to 21 tons of methamphetamine or approximately 1.1 billion tablets of yaba, with an estimated street value of 8.4 trillion won. The volume is sufficient to supply drugs to as many as 700 million users.
Lee Jae-myung commented on the operation via X, describing it as “a new face of the NIS,” adding that “a well-used blade can either harm or save lives depending on how it is used.”
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
