The family of a British Columbia woman detained in South Korea says she was unknowingly drawn into an international drug-smuggling operation through what they believe was a romance scam. Her daughters say the 58-year-old, who is deaf, thought she was travelling for a genuine relationship before authorities allegedly found methamphetamine hidden in her luggage.

The family of a British Columbia woman detained in South Korea says she was manipulated into becoming an alleged drug mule through what appears to be a sophisticated romance scam.

According to relatives, Spring Parks, 58, was arrested after arriving in South Korea, where authorities allegedly discovered methamphetamine concealed in her suitcase. Her daughters say the development came as a shock and that their mother had no idea she was carrying drugs.

The family says Parks had travelled from Vancouver to South Africa, where she reportedly met someone connected to the relationship. They believe she was then given luggage to carry onward to South Korea, without understanding what had been hidden inside. According to the family, authorities later found approximately four kilograms of methamphetamine in the suitcase.

Lawyers cited in the report say the circumstances appear consistent with a sophisticated smuggling scheme in which vulnerable individuals are targeted through online romance scams and then used to transport contraband across borders. In these cases, victims may believe they are travelling for personal reasons or helping someone they trust, only to find themselves detained when drugs are discovered.

Parks’ daughters say their mother’s trusting nature and hearing impairment may have made her particularly vulnerable to manipulation. They also believe she may have been encouraged to keep details of the relationship and her travel plans secret, which they say was unusual.

The case highlights the growing overlap between romance fraud and international trafficking schemes. Fraudsters often build emotional trust over time, isolate victims from family or friends, and create travel or financial scenarios that appear credible until the victim is already deeply entangled.

Under South Korean law, drug trafficking offences carry severe penalties. Lawyers interviewed in connection with the case say the outcome may depend in part on whether Parks can establish that she was deceived and did not knowingly participate in the smuggling operation.

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that consular assistance is being provided to a Canadian detained in South Korea. Meanwhile, Parks’ family is trying to raise money for legal representation and interpretation support, including American Sign Language assistance, as the case moves forward.

The case is a stark reminder that romance scams do not always end with financial loss alone. In some cases, victims can be pulled into far more serious criminal situations, with life-altering consequences in foreign jurisdictions.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.