18/04/2025
MV LUNITA UPDATE I UPDATE
MANILA — Twenty Filipino seafarers remain under investigation in South Korea after authorities seized two tons of suspected pure co***ne from their ship — the largest drug bust in the country's history, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed Thursday.
The Norwegian-flagged bulk carrier, manned entirely by Filipinos, had traveled from Mexico with stops in Ecuador, Panama, and China before docking at an east coast port in South Korea. Acting on intelligence from U.S. agencies, South Korean authorities boarded the vessel and discovered a concealed compartment behind the engine room containing 56 sacks of co***ne, each weighing 30–40 kilograms.
The street value of the haul is estimated at one trillion won, or roughly ₱39.3 billion. The Korea Coast Guard and Customs Service say this seizure is nearly five times larger than the country’s previous record drug bust.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said a lawyer representing the shipowner has met with the Filipino crew, while a second lawyer from the DMW will soon join their legal team. The seafarers will continue receiving their salaries during the investigation, as confirmed by their manning agency in Manila.
The Philippine embassy in Seoul and the DMW are coordinating closely with the seafarers' families. Meanwhile, South Korea has formed a joint investigation team to question the crew and probe possible links to international drug syndicates, with support from the FBI and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.
South Korea is known for its strict drug laws and has one of the lowest drug use rates globally.
