The Last Voyage of the Pong Su: A North Korean Heroin Smuggling Story

🚢The Pong Su incident was one of the biggest heroin smuggling attempts into Australia, involving the crew of a North Korean ship.

🕵️‍♂️Australian law enforcement received a tip-off from a human source about the impending drug delivery and launched an intensive surveillance operation.

🚁A special forces team, including members of the Australian SAS, boarded the Pong Su in a daring helicopter operation.

🛳️The Pong Su was destroyed by the Australian Air Force, ensuring it would never be used for smuggling again.

🇰🇵The case revealed connections between North Korea and international drug trafficking, raising questions about the regime's involvement.

What happened to the crew members of the Pong Su?

—Four crew members from the Pong Su were arrested and sentenced to 22 to 24 years imprisonment. Two key crew members, who were confirmed to be North Korean citizens, were deported back to North Korea.

Was North Korea directly involved in the heroin smuggling attempt?

—While there is intelligence linking North Korea to drug trafficking, the regime denies any involvement in the Pong Su incident. However, evidence found on the ship, such as North Korean leader portraits and instructions, suggests their connection.

What was the fate of the crew members deported to North Korea?

—It is believed that the deported crew members would have faced severe consequences upon returning to North Korea, possibly including execution.

What measures did Australian law enforcement take to intercept the Pong Su?

—Australian law enforcement conducted a surveillance operation, both physically and electronically, tracking the suspects' activities. They also called in the Royal Australian Navy and special forces troops for a daring boarding operation at sea.

Was the Pong Su involved in any other criminal activities?

—While the Pong Su was primarily used for the heroin smuggling attempt, evidence suggested connections to organized crime syndicates. Further investigations have been ongoing to uncover more about these ties.

00:00The podcast begins by setting the scene of the Pong Su incident, describing the size of the waves and the ominous feeling surrounding the events.

06:39Richard Baker, a journalist with the Age newspaper in Australia, introduces himself as the creator and host of The Last Voyage of the Pong Su podcast.

01:14Detective Superintendent Dez Appleby, the lead investigator for Operation Sorbet, shares his experience and involvement in the Pong Su case.

01:31The incident took place in 2003 on the Victorian Great Ocean Road, near a town called Lorne. Three Asian men arrived in Australia, triggering suspicions from the federal police.

03:45The surveillance operation on the suspects led to the interception of a vehicle with 150 kilos of heroin, which the police had been monitoring.

09:57After a lengthy legal process, the crew members of the Pong Su were arrested and sentenced, while two key crew members were confirmed to be North Korean citizens and were deported back to North Korea.

08:13Richard Baker meets Tasa Wong, one of the key crew members, who confirms the involvement of North Korea in the incident.

10:43As the podcast concludes, Richard Baker reflects on the story of the Pong Su and the connections between North Korea and international drug trafficking.