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Colombian national given 20 years for manufacturing cocaine in Korea

Published: 24 Mar. 2026, 17:28

A photo of powder cocaine [Drug Enforcement Administration]

A Colombian national who manufactured large quantities of cocaine in Korea using liquid drugs imported from Colombia has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The Incheon District Court sentenced a 48-year-old Colombian national to 20 years in prison on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes related to narcotics, according to the legal community on Tuesday.

The defendant was indicted on charges of manufacturing 61 kilograms (135 pounds) of solid cocaine with accomplices at a factory in Gangwon between June and July 2024. The drugs, worth an estimated 30.5 billion won ($20 million), were enough for about 1.22 million people.

“The crime is extremely serious as the defendant was involved in manufacturing large quantities of cocaine in Korea in connection with an international criminal organization,” the court said. “The defendant played a key role in the production process and bears significant responsibility.”

“While the defendant admitted to the crime and has no prior convictions in Korea, these factors were considered only to a limited extent as it appears the defendant entered the country with the intent to commit the crime," continued the court.

The defendant fled to Colombia after the crime but was extradited to Korea in September last year.

Prosecutors had previously indicted eight accomplices. The domestic ringleader and the individual who led distribution were sentenced to 25 years and 20 years in prison, respectively.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]