South Korean investigators question accomplice of jailed drug kingpin Known by the alias “Blue Whale”

South Korean investigators have questioned an alleged accomplice and nephew of a notorious drug trafficker imprisoned in the Philippines, as part of an expanding probe into a major transnational narcotics network, officials said on April 18.

A joint task force — comprising prosecutors, police and intelligence officers — said nine officials were dispatched to a correctional facility in Manila to interrogate the suspect, who is believed to have played a key role in smuggling drugs into South Korea, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The individual, known by the alias “Blue Whale,” is suspected of acting as an associate of Park Wang-yeol, a convicted drug trafficker serving a 60-year sentence in the Philippines for the 2016 murders of three South Korean nationals.

Authorities allege the nephew helped Park’s operations by facilitating the distribution and trafficking of narcotics into South Korea.

The investigators returned to South Korea on Saturday after completing the questioning, which they say will be used to strengthen the case against Park and other alleged accomplices.

Park, 48, was temporarily repatriated to South Korea last month for interrogation on additional drug trafficking charges. He is accused of smuggling, distributing, and attempting to sell narcotics worth approximately 13.1 billion won ($8.9 million) in South Korea.

By Aghakazim Guliyev