South Korean drug fugitive arrested in Thailand after visa overstay

Thai and South Korean officials collaborated to apprehend a South Korean fugitive involved in drug-related crimes.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the National Police Agency of South Korea arrested 44 year old Seo Jung Num at a hotel in Bang Lamung on October 3.

Seo had been evading an arrest warrant issued in South Korea for his role in drug trafficking. Allegedly, he was sourcing methamphetamine from Thailand and shipping it to South Korea.

The case against Seo began in December 2023, when South Korean officials confiscated international parcels containing illicit substances concealed in coffee and bean bags. Investigations pointed to Seo as the trafficker, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant.

On October 3, officials located Seo at a hotel in Bang Lamung. The Immigration Bureau discovered he had overstayed his visa, prompting his arrest, reported The Pattaya News.

Since 2023, the ONCB has closely collaborated with the South Korean Supreme Prosecutors’ Office (SPO) and National Intelligence Service (NIS). This partnership has resulted in the arrests of seven Korean drug suspects in 2023 and five more in 2024.

In related news, the Thai Ministry of Justice, in coordination with Indonesian authorities, successfully arrested a major fugitive in Bali, Indonesia, after he had been on the run since October of last year.

The fugitive, Chaowalit “Paeng” Thongduang, faced a sentence of 20 years and six months for aiding the escape of a gang member arrested on drug charges. He was also implicated in other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and the murder of former district chief Anan Klungchan.

While serving his sentence, Chaowalit was sent to the Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital on October 22 for dental treatment. He reportedly lost consciousness during treatment but this was later revealed to be part of his escape plan.