Police are hunting a South Korean national believed to be the leader of a drug smuggling ring after arresting three of his compatriots over the past month.
One of the three, Kim Kyoungho, 42, was deported on Wednesday, said In Song, deputy director of the Interior Ministry’s anti-drug department.
Lee Taehwa, 47, and Kim In Bae, 56, who were arrested last week, remain in custody and are expected to be deported shortly.
All three were captured at the Poipet International Checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province after Interpol issued a “Red Notice” for the men at the request of South Korean police, who suspect them of trafficking drugs from Cambodia to their home country.
Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, said police were now undertaking a manhunt for a fourth suspect believed by South Korean authorities to be the mastermind of the operation.
“We believe this Korean man, who has a ‘Red Notice,’ is still in Cambodia,” he said, adding that he could not disclose the suspect’s name, but that police were certain he was still in the country.
The suspect had gone underground, he said, turning off his mobile phones and disabling data connections.
