Sixty-four Koreans who were detained in Cambodia and are suspected of taking part in crimes such as voice phishing and romance scams were deported via Incheon Airport on Oct. 18 in the morning. They were arrested on board and, in handcuffs, were moved to six police jurisdictions.
This is the third time Korean criminals have been collectively deported from overseas on a chartered plane, and it is the largest operation to date.
The deportees departed for Korea on a Korean Air charter at about 3:15 a.m. Korea time from Techo International Airport near Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital. They were arrested in the cabin as soon as they boarded the charter. Under the Nationality Act, the inside of a national-flag aircraft is also Korean territory, so arrest warrants can be executed.
The in-flight meal on the charter was reportedly a sandwich. The airline provided food that did not require sharp utensils like forks or knives out of concern that a disturbance could occur in the cabin. The charter landed at Incheon Airport at about 8:36 a.m.
Most of those who arrived wore hats and masks. They did not answer reporters' questions. With their heads bowed, they boarded 23 prepared transport vans in turn. Two police officers held each suspect by the arms and escorted the person.
According to the Korean National Police Agency, the 64 people were divided among 23 transport vehicles and are being moved to the South Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency (45), the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency (15), the Daejeon Provincial Police Agency (1), the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station (1), the Gyeonggi Gimpo Police Station (1), and the Gangwon Wonju Police Station (1). Police will then investigate the alleged criminal conduct.
They are suspected of being detained in a Cambodian crime compound known as "Wench" and taking part in crimes such as voice phishing and romance scams. Of the 64, 59 were caught during a Cambodian operation to bust the scam compound. The remaining five reported themselves and were rescued from the crime compound. Among them is a person on an Interpol red notice.
Meanwhile, reports of kidnappings and confinements of Koreans in Cambodia jumped from four in 2021 and one in 2022 to 17 in 2023 and 220 last year. From January to August this year, the figure reached 330.