Tag: US soldiers

South Korean police have caught two people and questioned around a dozen American soldiers for the suspicion of smuggling and selling fake cannabis. They raided two US army bases to investigate this matter.

The police in Pyeongtaek reported in a news release on Wednesday that they conducted raids in May.

The police conducted searches and took away things at Camp Humphreys and Camp Casey as they received information from the US Army Criminal Investigation Division. Camp Humphreys is a big US military base close to Seoul, and Camp Casey is located to the north of the capital.

Police recorded videos of the raids reveal officers going into people’s homes and putting handcuffs on multiple individuals, including both males and females.

Two individuals, one from South Korea and one from the Philippines, were taken into custody for allegedly selling drugs. Police told CNN that after they were arrested, they were moved to the prosecutors to be formally charged.

Another 20 people, including 17 US soldiers, were taken in for questioning but not arrested. They were sent to the prosecution to be looked into further by the authorities.

CNN has contacted the United States Forces Korea to get their opinion or response.

Using cannabis for fun is against the law in South Korea, where drugs are seen as a very bad thing in society and users are punished severely. You can be punished with five years in prison or pay up to 50 million Korean won (about $37,600) for using or having cannabis in the country.

The police said that from May to August this year, a 24-year-old American soldier illegally brought 350 milliliters [11. 8 oz] of liquid synthetic cannabis from the US mainland using military mail. He then gave it to other American soldiers at Camp Humphries and Camp Casey to use and sell.

According to the report,one of the soldiers being questioned sold drugs to a Filipino dealer, who in turn sold it to a South Korean dealer and some other American soldiers.

The police took away 80 milliliters of fake cannabis, 27 electronic cigarettes, and about $13,000 in cash that was supposedly made from selling drugs.

The police shared videos showing the things they took,like lots of $50 and $100 bills, many cell phones, and colorful tube-like objects that look like vape pens.

The police are working together with the US Army Criminal Investigation Division to look into the American soldiers and the person who allegedly sent drugs from the US,along with the route used for smuggling.