S. Korean man arrested in Afghan heroin smuggling ring

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors in South Korea said Sunday they have
arrested a local man who allegedly tried to smuggle a large amount of
heroin-related materials into Afghanistan through Pakistani agents.
The suspect, who was only identified by his family name Park, attempted to ship
10 tons of acetic anhydride, a chemical used for making heroin, to Afghanistan
last month under the guise of dyeing agents, said the Seoul Central District
Prosecutors' Office in a press release. The quantity was enough to manufacture
heroin for 10 million people, it said.
The failed attempt was Park's second, following his successful shipment of 6.6
tons of acetic anhydride to Afghanistan in February, the office said.
As his own dyeing business was struggling, Park learned that the chemical agent
sells well in Afghanistan and become involved with a Pakistani drug gang, the
prosecution said.
Acetic anhydride is the most commonly used chemical agent in converting opium to
heroin but can also be used in the dyeing process.
The prosecution said it has informed the U.S. anti-drug agency, the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and Pakistan's Anti Narcotics Force of its search for
two Pakistani collaborators in the supply network.
The Afghan heroin trade is a major source of funding for terrorism in
Afghanistan, Iraq and other volatile countries, according to the U.S. government.
Money from Afghan-produced heroin is reportedly used by terror cells to buy
weapons and conduct attacks against U.S. troops stationed in the region.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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