Prosecutors seek 40 years in prison for 'three major drug lords in Southeast Asia'

The prosecution has demanded a heavy sentence for the drug distribution manager, who was called the "third generation drug king in Southeast Asia."

At the Suwon District Court, the prosecution asked for a 40-year prison sentence in a final hearing on charges such as the revision of the specific crime-weighted punishment law.

Kim's son, who faces the same charges, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Kim is the last person to be arrested among the "three largest drug lords in Southeast Asia" and is accused of using Telegram to trade with domestic supplies and selling methamphetamine and synthetic hemp.

After conducting a joint investigation with Vietnamese public security since 2019, the police arrested Kim in Ho Chi Minh City and forcibly repatriated him to Korea in July 2022.

At the time of repatriation, Kim was wanted for drug distribution by 13 investigative agencies nationwide, and the confirmed drug distribution amounted to 7 billion won.