By Park Si-soo







Thailand is putting on hold the extradition of a South Korean drug smuggler held at a local detention center for nearly two months to prevent the possible cross-border spread of coronavirus.





According to

, the man, in his 50s, is suspected of smuggling 6 kilograms of methamphetamine ― equivalent to 198,000 doses ― into South Korea from Cambodia.







He was caught late last year in Cambodia in a joint investigation by South Korea's prosecution and the National Intelligence Service. But he broke out of jail and sneaked into Thailand where police detained him.







South Korean authorities want his quick extradition for trial, along with two dozen suspected accomplices. But Thailand is not cooperating, citing a ban on the cross-border travel of criminal suspects aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.







"It's uncertain when the extradition process for him will begin," a prosecutor familiar with the case said.

