Guam - Agents successfully stopped close to a half-million dollars worth of drugs from entering the territory, as two passengers attempted to bring a large amount of Ice to Guam. It's the second time in the past month someone tried to bring in the drug off an inbound flight from the Philippines.

Authorities are trying to find out if there is a link between the recent cases. Two Korean nationals who arrived on Philippine airlines flight 110 from Manila on June 7 were busted for trying to smuggle in the drug Ice. Guam Customs Spokesperson Lieutenant Ferdinand Soriano said, "And they were secondary routine inspected and they were brought to the back, questions were asked and their luggage was checked and during that inspection we did find approximately 426 grams of methamphetamine in the baggage."

39-year-old Sung Kwon and 32-year-old Jae Chul Shin allegedly tried to bring in close to a half-million dollars of the crystal methamphetamines hidden in the false bottom of a golf bag. According to court documents Kwon and Shin live in the Philippines and are mutual acquaintances of an individual identified as "Mr. Kim", who paid for their trip and expenses to Guam to have fun and play golf. Kwon told federal authorities he is employed at a casino in the Philippines and also works as a tour guide and golf instructor. 

Shin said he managed the Heyson Restaurant in Makati. According to a complaint filed in the District Court the two gave conflicting stories as to who actually owned the golf bag. Guam Customs reports more and more of these drug busts throughout the summer months and during the peak traveling season. Soriano adds they are also investigating whether this recent drug bust is related to bust conducted last month.

According to the federal complaint, customs also searched another bag, a small black hard sided suitcase with a false bottom. Although they didn't find anything inside, they did note the case was identical to the one used by Korean National Hwang Choi on May 19. Choi was indicted last month after trying to smuggle in more than 400 grams of Ice from the Philippines. According to court documents prior to coming to Guam Choi was in the Philippines playing golf for four days. "Both cases are still under investigation and to say something would be premature so I would like to reserve comment on that," said Soriano.

He says Customs is working with local and federal agencies to try and find the source of the drug-trafficking problem coming from neighboring countries. "As far as the problem we are noticing we don't have a pattern to go on but just to let the public know we are out there, we are vigilant and depending on where you are coming from we will be there to inspect any person, cargo or baggage that does come in," he said.

Kwon and Shin are scheduled to appear in the District Court on June 22.