Vic: Heroin ship linked to N Korea: report
MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - The North Korean government reportedly owns a ship impoundedin Sydney after it allegedly dropped off 50 kilograms of high-grade heroin in Victorialast week.
The freighter Pong Su is owned by the North Korean government's Pongsu Shipping Company,according to today's Sunday Herald Sun.
The paper also cites US State Department reports that North Korea has been runninga huge heroin trade.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea Government, it is alleged, illicitly producesnarcotic drugs and traffics in them to earn foreign exchange," the paper quotes the reportas saying.
According to the Herald Sun, Lloyd's List Daily Commercial News said the 4,015-tonnePong Su was part of a five-vessel fleet owned by North Korea.
The paper also reported claims by South Korea's National Intelligence service thatNorth Korea had been selling drugs through diplomats and businessmen stationed overseassince the 1970s.
Thirty North Korean crew members of the Pong Su remain in custody after facing courtsin Sydney and Melbourne last week, and four nationals of other Asian countries have beencharged over the alleged heroin drop-off.
A leading US government expert on the international drug trade told The Sun-Heraldhe was convinced the Pong Su was part of a heroin production ring directed by the regimeof Kim Jong-il.
"No question about it," the paper quote US narcotics and terrorism adviser RaphaelPerl as saying.
"It is standard practice for them to use trading companies for shipping narcotics."
AAP ag/pwO
KEYWORD: HEROIN SHIP
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