The U.S. Forces Korea on Tuesday denied that there is gang presence in its personnel stationed here.

Its denial came after an October report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that members from 53 gangs have been enlisted in U.S. installations around the world, including those in South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany and Japan.

“We have checked with the Korean national police, (the U.S. military) Central Investigation Department and the FBI,” a USFK media relations officer told reporters, declining to be named.

“All three organizations confirmed that they are not aware of any ongoing investigations that indicated gang presence here in Korea and that are involved in USFK personnel.”

The FBI report said that gangs enlisted in the U.S. military had smuggled weapons and drugs, and that they are embedded in almost all of the U.S. installations around the world. It also said that in some cases, gangs cajoled their fellow soldiers or other military staff into joining their criminal efforts.

The U.S. stations 28,500 troops here on the peninsula mainly as deterrence against North Korea.

(sshluck@heraldcorp.com)