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US soldiers involved in drug trafficking in South Korea. Photo/Reuters
SEOUL – South Korean police are investigating 17 US soldiers and five other people who are suspected of smuggling or using synthetic marijuana through military posts.
This follows raids on at least two US military bases in May, including Camp Humphreys, its largest overseas base.
A Filipino and a South Korean have been arrested, while prosecutors review cases against 22 suspects.
Information from US Army law enforcement agencies has sparked a four-month investigation by Korean authorities.
“This is one of the biggest cases in recent years involving American soldiers,” said Cha Min-seok, a senior detective in South Korea, as reported by the BBC.
A joint raid conducted by South Korean police and the US Army Criminal Investigation Division turned up 77 grams of synthetic marijuana, more than 4 kg of “mixed liquid” used for vaping, and a total of $12,850 in cash.
They are accused of smuggling synthetic marijuana – known by the street names K2 and Spice – into the country via the US military postal service.
Seven of them, including five soldiers, were allegedly involved in drug sales, 12 were users and three acted as intermediaries. “A soldier’s spouse and another soldier’s fiancé were also involved,” police told the BBC.
The 17 soldiers are currently stationed at Camp Humphreys, about 48km south of the capital Seoul, and at Camp Casey, a military post about 40km north of Seoul.