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The Korea Coast Guard has arrested an organization that smuggled goods into and out of Korea and China under cover of container goods between Korea and China. It was also revealed that he committed additional smuggling immediately after being caught.
In September and October last year, the Korea Coast Guard arrested seven people on charges of smuggling Korean cigarettes, deer mushrooms, watches and other miscellaneous goods worth 36 billion won through Incheon Port Container Cargo. On the 17th, it was revealed that two of them, Kim (43), and Jeong (51), who actually owned smuggled goods, were arrested and sent to prose cutors. They reportedly bought high-value-added mushrooms from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, New Zealand and China through China's mediation, falsely reported as "daily goods" and smuggled them. The smuggled cigarettes alone amounted to 53,000 catridges, and after buying them there at 10,000 won per catridges, they sold them for 20,000 to 30,000 won to earn huge illegal profits. The company smuggled 40 to 15,000 counterfeit goods such as watches and perfumes worth a maximum market price of 20 million won, as well as 200 kilograms of dangerous deer mushrooms such as Gwangroku bottles.
In addition, the KCG applied the "Law on the Punishment of Specific Crimes," which imposes heavier punishment for smuggling crimes based on the cost of smuggling goods alone, and investigated to make these crimes stricter. After being first caught in September last year, the Korea Coast Guard attacked additional smuggling sites in October and secured clues and smuggled goods. Based on this, the investigation expanded to include the general responsibility for customs clearance of smuggled goods, followed them for nearly a year and arrested all the smuggling organizations.
An official of the Korea Coast Guard said, "The commission will focus its efforts on eradicating international smuggling by pursuing not only the transportation of smuggled goods but also the leaders of the smuggling industry as a border violation crime."
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