Seoul: The justice ministry has pledged to reclaim criminal proceeds from Park Wang-yeol, a prominent South Korean drug trafficker who was recently extradited from the Philippines. Park, who has been serving a 60-year sentence for the murder of three South Koreans in 2016, returned to South Korea to face further police investigations on drug trafficking charges.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Park Wang-yeol, referred to as a "drug kingpin," is accused of using Telegram to smuggle drugs into South Korea while incarcerated in the Philippines since 2022. The justice ministry has expressed its commitment to dismantling the drug trafficking network associated with Park and recovering any criminal proceeds from his illicit activities. A ministry official emphasized the thorough investigation that will follow to identify the organization and reclaim the proceeds.

Upon Park's arrival at Incheon International Airport, he was met by a significant police presence and ministry officials. Despite the media's attempts to question him about his crimes, Park remained silent, only gesturing towards a reporter at the scene. Law enforcement officials have identified several accomplices linked to Park and plan to analyze his mobile phone while pursuing a formal arrest warrant.

The extradition of Park follows President Lee Jae Myung's request for cooperation from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during diplomatic talks three weeks prior. Initially, Manila had denied South Korea's extradition request in 2017, but Park's temporary repatriation was achieved after extensive negotiations.

Park's criminal history includes fleeing to the Philippines after engaging in pyramid schemes in South Korea. There, he ran a casino business before committing the murders of the three South Koreans, who were themselves fugitives involved in illegal fundraising activities.