Twenty Filipino crew members, including the captain, are now under investigation in South Korea after authorities seized what they suspect to be cocaine hidden in a cargo ship’s engine room—the largest drug bust in the country’s history.
The ship, M/V Lunita, docked in Gangneung City Port on South Korea’s east coast when Korean Customs and Coast Guard officers uncovered 57 boxes—about two tonnes—of suspected cocaine inside a concealed engine room compartment.
“Ang naiulat ay sa engine room na natagpuan. Eto, kasama na ‘yan sa imbestigasyon kung sino ang mga sangkot, kung meron man kasama sa mga tripolante, kung ano man ang mga detalye, kung nasasaan o ano ang mga location at involvement ng bawat tripolante on board,” said Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac in a radio interview on April 8.
The vessel, flying a Norwegian flag, reportedly sailed from Mexico, with stops in Ecuador, Panama, and China before reaching South Korea. J.J. Ugland Companies, the ship’s Norwegian owner, confirmed ownership and expressed uncertainty over how the drugs ended up onboard.
“It is unclear how the drugs came aboard our vessel. We are working with relevant authorities to assist in the investigation, both in South Korea and in other affected jurisdictions,” the company said in a statement.
While the shipowner has already secured a lawyer for the crew, the Philippine government is also dispatching legal support for the Filipino nationals. Cacdac emphasized that the seafarers are “presumed innocent” and “entitled to their defense.”
The two-tonne drug haul has surpassed South Korea’s previous record seizure of 404 kilograms of methamphetamine in 2021. With some of the strictest drug laws in the world, South Korea imposes severe penalties, including up to 15 years in prison for repeat or high-volume offenders.
