27 arrested for smuggling luxury goods to Korea

By KH디지털2

Published : July 7, 2016 - 14:58

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Korea's customs authorities said Thursday they have arrested 27 suspects on smuggling charges for sneaking foreign luxury items worth a total 17 billion won ($14 million) into the country.

Incheon Main Customs said the suspects, from four different groups, are accused of illegally importing 588 luxury watches and 48 handbags through Incheon and Gimpo airports from January 2013 to last month.

After purchasing the items from local airport duty-free shops or from overseas stores, including outlets in Hong Kong and the United States, the masterminds of the groups allegedly hired foreigners to either wear the items or hide them so they can pass through customs without being reported.

Customs officials display luxury watches seized from smuggling rings at the customs clearance office in Incheon International Airport, about 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on July 7, 2016. (Yonhap)

The smuggled items include a Patek Philippe watch that costs more than a billion won here and several Hermes bags that cost upwards to 50 million won, according to the authorities.

"The tax rate of luxury watches reaches up to 42 to 48 percent," a customs official said. "They seem to have continued the wrongdoings as a high profit is guaranteed once the smuggling is successful."

The customs office said it will continue to crack down on the law breakers to prevent similar crimes from occurring. (Yonhap)

27 arrested for smuggling luxury goods to Korea

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