1 week Ago By Korea Bizwire
On April 2, officials from the East Sea Regional Coast Guard and the Korea Customs Service transfer boxes containing dozens of 1-kilogram bricks of suspected cocaine from a foreign vessel docked at Okgae Port in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. The seized narcotics—estimated at 2 tons in weight and valued at approximately 1 trillion won—are believed to be enough for 67 million individual doses. April 3, 2025 (Photo courtesy of the East Sea Regional Coast Guard) GANGNEUNG, South Korea, April 8 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean military surveillance unit played a critical role in the recent seizure of what authorities believe to be the country’s largest-ever shipment of cocaine, the Army’s 23rd Guard Brigade confirmed Tuesday.
On April 2, a joint operation by the East Sea Regional Coast Guard and Seoul Main Customs uncovered a massive quantity of suspected narcotics aboard a ship docked at Okgae Port in Gangneung—enough, investigators say, to supply 67 million individual doses. Behind the scenes, the 23rd Guard Brigade, responsible for coastal security in the Gangneung region, had been closely monitoring the area. According to the brigade, it received a tip-off from the Coast Guard on April 1 that a vessel carrying illegal substances might attempt to dock nearby.
In response, the brigade formed a task force led by its commander, implemented confidential operational guidelines, and deployed radar, thermal observation devices (TOD), and high-resolution surveillance cameras for continuous tracking. The suspicious vessel was first detected on radar at 8:41 p.m.
that evening, and was visually confirmed two hours later using thermal imaging, located 32 kilometers offshore. The unit maintained constant surveillance as the ship approached territorial waters, assigning a radar tracking number and coordinating real-time updates with maritime authorities. Suspected cocaine-smuggling vessel identified through thermal observation device (TOD) (Photo courtesy of the Army’s 23rd Guard Brigade) At 6:13 a.
m. the following morning, the ship docked at Okgae Port. Armed with precise tracking data provided by the brigade, Coast Guard officers were waiting on-site and moved in to search the vessel, ultimately seizing the suspected cocaine.
Brig. Gen. Lim Sang-jin, commander of the 23rd Guard Brigade, emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration: “As the regional defense unit, we were able to contribute to this successful operation thanks to the trust and cooperation we’ve built with partner agencies.
The military remains committed to its duty—safeguarding national security and public safety, even when out of sight.” The military announced plans to formally recognize and reward personnel who contributed to the successful surveillance operation. The investigation into the drug shipment is ongoing, as authorities work to determine its origin, destination, and possible links to international trafficking networks.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.
com).
