Speculation is rampant that Lee Sun-ho, CJ Group heir-apparent and the eldest son of group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, attempted to smuggle a quantity of illegal drugs into the country as customs officers found several marijuana products in his possession.
Lee Sun-ho, CJ Group heir-apparent and the eldest son of group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, who was caught attempting to smuggle liquid marijuana into Korea, was also found to be in possession of additional products containing marijuana.
According to a local news outlet Newsis, Tuesday, the 29-yearold was also in possession of edible marijuana products, when he was apprehended by customs officers at Incheon International Airport, Sunday, for attempting to smuggle dozens of e-cigarette cartridges filled with highly enriched liquid marijuana in his luggage from the United States.
The products included marijuana-infused candies and jellies and drug-smoking devices, raising suspicions that he may have habitually taken the drug.
Although the most popular method for using marijuana is smoking and vaping, edibles are currently gaining traction.
Lee is now under investigation for violation of the Narcotics Control Act, noting his urine sample tested positive for the banned substance.
Meanwhile, the prosecution’s release of Lee is also raising speculation that the scion of the nation’s leading food and entertainment conglomerate is receiving preferential treatment. Lee is a senior manager at CJ Cheiljedang.
When it comes to drug cases, the investigative authorities usually detain smugglers on the spot or seek arrest warrants. Lee’s case involves the smuggling of a variety of marijuana products, a serious crime with a minimum sentence of five years in jail.
But prosecutors said they sent Lee home after taking various matters into consideration such as his lack of a previous criminal record, quick admission of the crime, and low likelihood of him destroying evidence or fleeing.
They questioned Lee further on Tuesday for about five hours and sent him home again.
Earlier this year, third-generation conglomerate scions from SK and Hyundai Group were arrested for possessing marijuana and the prosecution demanded 18-month jail terms.