Manila: Not for the first time a North Korean ship stands accused of drug trafficking. When the M/V Nam Yang 8 grounded off the Cagayan-Ilocos coast in the Philippines on January 1 there was much media speculation about the possibility of illicit materials onboard. All 22 North Korean crew of the Chinese flagged ship were saved and are currently in the Philippines. Now local media is reporting drugs have been discovered onboard.
Shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and marijuana were allegedly discovered by a composite team of Immigration, Coast Guard, police and Customs operatives inside the M/V Nam Yang 8, which had washed ashore off Barangay Pasaleng, Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, the Philippine Star reports.
The ship was starting to tilt due to alleged overloading while sailing off the Philippine coast along the South China Sea en route to the Chinese mainland in the early morning of January 1.
North Korean ships have a history of being caught with drugs onboard, most famously the Pong Su off Australia some seven years ago. [05/01/10]
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