Smugglers' beer tunnel mocks DMZ security

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | 9/6/03 | Staff

[TastyManatees]

Smugglers' beer tunnel mocks DMZ security

September 6, 2003

Two thieves smuggled nearly 58,000 crates of beer and 4000 boxes of wine worth £ $A3 million through a secret tunnel under the high-security perimeter of the main United States military base in Seoul.

American forces in South Korea are supposed to be on high alert against intrusions by North Korean commandos and anti-base protesters. But the thieves ferried stolen alcohol through the tunnel for two years before their arrest this week.

The US military is investigating the spectacularly embarrassing security lapse. The two men, identified only by their surnames - Lee and Song - worked at the Yongsan army base.

Local media reported that they initially used a van to transport goods stolen from the base's warehouse, but later embarked on an elaborate plan to shift the alcohol in bulk.

Setting up a cafe - the U-Turn Espresso Coffee Shop - just outside the base as a cover for the entrance of the shaft, they dug a 20-metre passage into the warehouse.

In an impressive feat of engineering, the tunnel was built on an incline and fitted with rollers so they could slide the heavy merchandise back to the cafe. They are said to have become so complacent about the lax security that they employed people to help them shift the goods in greater quantities.

Customs officials said the thieves had stolen 57,900 crates of beer and 4000 boxes of wine from June 2001 until this year.

They were arrested after a tip-off from a trader at a nearby market where the stolen goods were resold.

"We caught them taking liquor out through a tunnel at the scene on Tuesday," said Jung Woong-il, an inspector at the customs office.

An official at the prosecutor's department said it was unimaginable that a tunnel could be dug under the Yongsan base.

Security is supposed to be tight at American bases in South Korea, where 37,000 US troops are stationed.

North Korean commandos have used tunnels to infiltrate South Korea. Several huge underground passages have been discovered under the demilitarised zone that separates the two sides.

The Guardian

[TastyManatees]

You would think they'd have the best security around the beer...

Tasty Manatees

[dighton]

You would think they'd have the best security around the beer...

I'll ping the specialist.

[steveegg]

IMHO, this is worthy of a one-time return of "Hold muh beer and watch this".

[AdamSelene235]

Some things are more important than politics.

[Cboldt]

(checking ground between house and local beer inventory) > ping <

[mhking]

Hold muh beer 'n wine 'n watch this!

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Customs officials said the thieves had stolen 57,900 crates of beer and 4000 boxes of wine from June 2001 until this year.

Boxed wine? As punishment make them drink it!

*shudder*

[Springman]

58,000 crates (aka) cases of beer!! OMG who was the IDIOT DOING INVENTORY THERE!!!! What did he think, he was drinking that much!!!

[SquirrelKing]

BANNER: "Are you the Beer Baron?"

COMIC BOOK GUY: "Yes, but only by night. By day I'm a mild-mannered reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper."

BANNER: "Dont crack wise with me, tubby!"

CBG: "Tubby?! Oh... "

[steveegg]

Beer run ping.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

You mean this stuff?!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

More like this stuff.

Chug! Chug!

[razorback-bert]

Leds me to think someone else was stealing from the warehouse too.

[glock rocks]

holy crap batman!

I've got better security around MY beer...

italian wife with a gun and an attitude, 150 lb rottie, couple of badass backup dawgs, ... sheesh, and little ole me... jus sittin downstairs cleanin muh carbine...

you'd take yer life in yer hands several times over just to snatch a sixpack of Rolling Rock outa the fridge on the deck...

what gives with these guys?

[tubebender]

Hmmmmm...So that's where Norm disappears to every race...

[BobS]

"58,000 crates (aka) cases of beer!!

A crate is about 40 cases of beer. I found supply order numbers for different brands of beer while in the Air Force while looking for electronic parts, LOL! I almost talked my Msgt. branch chief into ordering some on a Friday, LOL!

[Squantos]

Pet Peaves !.....................Stay Safe !!

[Experiment 6-2-6]

They were arrested after a tip-off from a trader at a nearby market where the stolen goods were resold. You would think the missing inventory would have tipped them off.

Boxed wine? As punishment make them drink it!

As the GUARDIAN is an English Publication, I think they substitute boxes for cases

[glock rocks]

stop me if I've told you this story before (stand by, I'm gonna read you a story)...

when I was a starving rookie, I rented the downstairs of a guy's house who owned a german shep named Zap.

Zap was one of the most intelligent dawgs I'd met... so, well one thing led to another, and this was back in the beginning of MTV... I taught the dawg to grab the towel I'd tied to the fridge, and grab one of the millers I'd laid out on the bottom shelf (on their sides). Dang, dawg, bring me a beer, this is rock and roll !

It was a howl!! Zap! Fetch BEER !!! ... and the dawg would toddle off to the kitchen, you'd hear the miller rattle on the bottom of the fridge as he'd grab it in his jaws, and then he'd appear with a cold frosty one in the living room. GOOD BOY ZAP !!

lasted about a week... I came home from work one evening, and there was tinfoil all over the kitchen floor... yup... Zap had found the cheese.

I had to untie the towel from the door and fetch my own beer from there on. Damn sad that he abused his power. Crap, I had hopes for him.

[Squantos]

Had a very small toy poodle we taught the same trick to. Cept the poodle had to physically jump into the bottom shelf and push the beer can out on the floor and then roll it into the living room.

One evening I told "prissy" to go get me a beer. I heard the beer hit the floor, but then silence. I waited a few minutes and then went looking for "prissy". No poodle named prissy was anywhere to be found. I opened the door on the fridge and there sat "prissy" on the bottom shelf of the icebox.

We could never ever get her to do that trick again...........:o)

Stay Safe !