North Korean Ambassadors Accused Of Bootlegging Alcohol In Pakistan

A gigantic supply of alcohol was robbed from the home of a North Korean diplomat in Pakistan last month, and the ensuing investigation has raised suspicion that the country maybe bootlegging. It is illegal for Muslims to drink alcohol in Pakistan, and it's hard for even non-Muslims to get their hands on liquor.

When robbers struck the home of North Korean ambassador Hyon Ki Yong on Oct. 3, they stole more than $150,000 worth of alcohol. It took the three burglars more than three hours to steal the liquor, according to Reuters Wednesday.

The heist resulted in the loss of thousands of bottles of whiskey, beer and wine. The large quantity of alcohol in the home raised the eyebrows of some officials.

According to Hyon, the robbers made off with 1,200 bottles of Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskey, 200 cases of wine, 60 cases of beer, dozens of bottles of tequila, two diamonds and $3,000 in cash. This amount far exceeds Hyon’s official quota of imported alcohol allowed by the Pakistani government. Pakistan hasn’t said if Hyon, who has diplomatic immunity, is under investigation.

“This North Korean was involved in liquor selling,” a senior police official told Reuters without providing further evidence.

One of the suspected robbers who spoke with Reuters also accused the North Koreans of bootlegging.

“They have been doing this business for a long time,” Malik Asif, who has since gone into hiding, told Reuters. Asif is reportedly also a police officer.

Police have since recovered a majority of the stolen alcohol.

North Korea has around 13 diplomats in Pakistan, and other countries have questioned why it needs so many. The embassies of the U.S., Japan and South Korea have all lodged complaints with the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the size of North Korea’s delegation. North Korea and Pakistan ceased official trade in 2016.

North Korea, which is cut off from trade with much of the world through United Nations sanctions, engages in black market and illicit trade to produce revenue.

The U.S. has been aggressive in admonishing governments that don’t fulfill sanctions or other punishments toward North Korea since the election of President Donald Trump. The president, who is currently in China, has leaned on Russia and China to help tighten restrictions on North Korea in an attempt to curtail the country’s missile and nuclear weapons programs.