Former Pro Baseball Player Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Smuggling

A former professional baseball player has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for smuggling approximately 1.9 kilograms of ketamine into the country from Thailand.

The Busan District Court, presided over by Judge Lim Ju-hyeok of the 7th Criminal Division, sentenced the former player, identified as A, to 10 years in prison today (July 14) on charges including violations of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes.

The court also ordered A to complete a 40-hour drug rehabilitation program and imposed a forfeiture of 100,000 won.

Meanwhile, a software developer identified as B, who was indicted alongside A, was acquitted due to insufficient evidence to prove their involvement in the crime.

A and B were accused of acting as ringleaders of a drug trafficking organization, smuggling 1.9 kilograms of ketamine into South Korea on three separate occasions between September and October of last year.

Prosecutors determined that they orchestrated a so-called relay smuggling operation, in which drugs were exchanged in a matter of seconds at airports in Incheon and Thailand.

A was also charged with using methamphetamine once at a club in Thailand between December of last year and January of this year.

The court found A guilty of smuggling, noting that A's internet and map search history, as well as cryptocurrency investment records, were inconsistent with typical currency exchange activities. The court also cited evidence suggesting that A attempted to destroy evidence through a third party.

The court stated, "The crime involved bringing a large quantity of drugs into the country, and the nature of the offense is very grave," adding, "Drug crimes are carried out covertly, making them difficult to detect, and they have a high potential to create numerous drug users."

Regarding B, the court acknowledged suspicious circumstances, such as B staying with A for a significant period and hiding A's mobile phone or introducing a lawyer during the return process to Korea.

However, the court ruled that "these circumstances are merely circumstantial," adding, "Statements provided to investigative agencies that could serve as grounds for a guilty verdict lack evidentiary value, and A has failed to provide specific details regarding B's involvement." Consequently, B was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.