South Korean drug suspect deported over $3.6bn cocaine case

Ghanaian authorities have deported an 80-year-old South Korean national wanted for his alleged role in an international drug trafficking operation valued at approximately $3.6 billion. The suspect, who had been a fugitive for over two decades, was apprehended in Ghana and repatriated to South Korea on October 20. His arrest and subsequent deportation followed a high-level collaboration between Ghanaian law enforcement and South Korea’s National Police Agency, executed after his inclusion on Interpol’s red notice list.

The suspect is accused of overseeing the transportation of more than five tonnes of cocaine through international waters between 2002 and 2004. According to official reports, the individual had been living in Ghana as an undocumented resident since approximately 2004, successfully evading detection for 20 years. During his time in the country, he remained under the radar of immigration authorities until a joint intelligence operation identified him as the high-profile fugitive sought by South Korean investigators.

This deportation marks the culmination of a significant international manhunt for a key figure within a global narcotics syndicate. South Korean authorities allege that the organization the suspect belonged to was responsible for massive shipments of illegal substances, accruing billions of dollars in illicit revenue. Upon his return to South Korea, the suspect will face formal legal proceedings and charges related to narcotics trafficking. The operation underscores the strengthening partnership between Ghana and global security agencies in addressing transnational organized crime.