Australian Special Forces Seize North Korean Ship

Australian police recovered the heroin with a street value of US$48 million
After a 5 day sea chase Australian special forces boarded and seized a North Korean cargo ship off the New South Wales coast last Sunday. The ship, PONG SU, was previously seen unloading a cargo of 50 kg of pure heroin near the shores of Victoria. The drugs were transferred to the mainland in a dangerous operation involving a group of criminals in the rough seas. Australian media report that one of the drug smugglers drowned during the transfer.

Australian police, customs and Navy vessels were involved in a chase attempting to stop the North Korean freighter. When the ship refused to obey orders, a group of commando soldiers boarded PONG SU from helicopters and rubber boats. The Korean crew of 29 were transferred to prisons and appeared in courts. Soldiers arrested as well a Chinese national found to be a passenger on PONG SU and thought to be directly involved in the smuggling operation.

Australian police recovered the heroin with a street value of US$48 million.

Henry Marconi