20 Filipino seafarers under investigation in South Korea for two tons of cocaine

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that 20 Filipino seafarers remain under investigation in South Korea over a week after authorities discovered two tons of cocaine hidden aboard a cargo vessel, making it the largest drug seizure in South Korea's history.

South Korean officials found 'two tons' of suspected pure cocaine on a Norwegian-flagged vessel that had departed from Mexico and made stops in Ecuador, Panama, and China.

The ship's all-Filipino crew are being investigated at an eastern coast port in South Korea, with the DMW secretary Hans Leo Cacdac emphasizing ongoing investigations.

A lawyer from the shipowner has met with the Filipino seafarers, while another lawyer from the DMW will soon join their defense team to provide additional legal support.

The seafarers are continuing to receive their salaries during the investigation and maintaining contact with their families and Philippine embassy officials in Seoul.

South Korean authorities launched the operation after receiving intelligence from US agencies, discovering a hidden compartment behind the ship's engine room containing 56 sacks of suspected cocaine.

Investigators are examining potential ties to international drug trafficking syndicates and expanding cooperation with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations.