The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court convicted Nam Hyunuk, 29, Lee Dong Woo, 26, and Jeon Gukbin, 28, of illegally transporting narcotics.
The defendants at the first-instance trial (Photo: H.P.).
According to the indictment, the three men were stopped by security officers while undergoing passenger and carry-on baggage screening at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on August 23, 2024.
During the inspection, authorities discovered nearly 1.5kg of narcotics concealed inside their underwear.
Investigators said the three entered Vietnam on August 20, 2024. The following evening, while visiting a bar in what was then District 1, they met an unidentified Vietnamese woman.
According to their testimony, the woman asked Nam Hyunuk to carry what she described as health supplements and nutritional products back to South Korea in exchange for a payment of KRW 3 million.
On August 22, Nam Hyunuk returned to the bar and received a red fabric bag containing three nylon packages.
He told investigators that the woman claimed the shipment was large enough to attract customs duties and instructed him to hide the packages inside his underwear. Nam Hyunuk later divided the packages between Lee Dong Woo and Jeon Gukbin, who also concealed them in the same manner.
Authorities said the investigation into the unidentified woman suspected of organising the drug shipment has been separated from the main case while efforts continue to establish her identity and whereabouts.
