A Colombian national was extradited and indicted in Korea for converting liquid narcotics into 61 kilograms of solid cocaine.

Prosecutors said the stash contained 1.22 million doses worth about 30.5 billion won, or 21.8 million U.S. dollars, the country’s largest cocaine case to date.

The man fled to Colombia after completing the 2023 operation at a factory in Gangwon Province, but was extradited to Korea last month.

Eight accomplices have already been convicted, including a Canadian distributor who was handed a 20-year prison term.

The case highlights transnational syndicates tapping foreign chemists to produce drugs locally.

Authorities vowed to step up cooperation with overseas authorities to disrupt supply chains.