Ghana Deports 80-Year-Old South Korean Fugitive Wanting Over $3.6 Billion Cocaine Operation

​Ghanaian authorities have deported an 80-year-old South Korean national accused of coordinating one of the largest international drug smuggling rings in recent history. The suspect was removed from the country after immigration officials confirmed he had been living in Ghana as an undocumented immigrant for roughly 22 years, effectively evading international law enforcement while hiding in plain sight.

​The fugitive had been wanted for allegedly transporting 5,385 kilograms over five metric tonnes of cocaine across five separate operations between 2002 and 2004. With an estimated street value exceeding US$3.6 billion, the massive illicit haul marked him as a high-value target for global anti-narcotics agencies tracking transnational organized crime networks.

​Law enforcement reports indicate that the suspect fled to West Africa shortly after his accomplices were arrested and prosecuted in South Korea two decades ago. By slipping into Ghana and keeping a low profile without valid legal status, he successfully managed to avoid extradition and arrest, effectively halting foreign prosecution efforts until recent intelligence led local authorities to his location.

​The deportation highlights growing security and intelligence collaboration between Ghanaian immigration authorities and international law enforcement agencies aiming to purge transnational fugitives from the region. The 80-year-old suspect is now expected to face judicial proceedings in South Korea, bringing a formal end to a multi-billion-dollar drug trafficking investigation that spans over two decades.

@Volta Today