N Korea envoys ‘smuggled drugs’

BBC
12/9/2004

Turkey has deported two North Korean diplomats accused of smuggling drugs, Turkish officials say.

They said the two men – named as Ryang Thae Won and Kim Son Jin – were caught in a police raid in Istanbul on Sunday.

They are alleged to have been in possession of large quantities of Captagon – a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant.

The diplomats – who have immunity – were taken by car to Bulgaria, where they are based, on Tuesday.

“They were declared persona non grata in line with related international agreements,” a Turkish diplomat told AFP news agency.

Turkish officials say the diplomats brought the pills from Bulgaria and delivered them to two Turks, who were arrested in the Istanbul raid.

The government in Ankara recognises North Korea but Pyongyang does not have its embassy in Turkey.

The embassy in Bulgaria usually deals with North Korean affairs in Turkey.

North Korean officials have not commented on the incident.

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