A South Korean human rights group says a North Korean trade official has been arrested in China for dealing drugs.

The cohead of the Crimes Against Humanity Investigation Committee, Do Hee-yoon, quoted a source in China as saying Tuesday that Chinese authorities in Dandong arrested in early March a North Korean official who works as an interpreter at the trade office in the North Korean border city of Sinuiju.

The source said that during the arrest, Chinese authorities also confiscated two kilograms of methamphetamines from the official.

Do said that it is unprecedented for a North Korean official who handles trade operations to be arrested for dealing drugs. He said that due the recent incident, the Dandong customs office has stepped up customs clearance procedures.