The Police's Next Target is 'Mask'... Special Crackdown Team Formed for Distribution Order Disruption

Intensive Crackdown on Hoarding, Macro Purchases, and Resale

A notice about mask sold out is posted at a pharmacy.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The police are accelerating investigations related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), including forming a ‘COVID-19 Rapid Response Team’ to identify Shincheonji Church members whose whereabouts are unknown, and operating a special crackdown team to detect illegal activities related to masks such as hoarding and resale.

On the 28th, the National Police Agency announced that it would launch a special crackdown team to crack down on activities disrupting mask distribution order. This measure aims to verify whether the supply quantities from mask manufacturers and sellers are properly delivered to the public amid the ‘mask crisis’ caused by the spread of COVID-19.

The special crackdown team plans to focus on four major types of activities: ▲disrupting mask distribution order ▲hoarding such as mask ‘stockpiling’ and violations of emergency supply adjustment measures ▲hoarding and resale of masks using macros (automated repetitive programs) ▲accumulating and reselling masks beyond the allowable purchase quantity. Hoarding masks is punishable under the Price Stabilization Act, using macros is punishable as obstruction of business, and resale activities can be punished for unjust profits.

The special crackdown team will be organized and operated across 18 local police agencies and 255 police stations nationwide. The police have identified 152 mask manufacturing sites (factories) nationwide and will form dedicated teams at the respective police stations in charge, while other police offices will operate dedicated teams depending on circumstances. Additionally, one cyber investigation team at the local police agencies will be designated as a special crackdown team to monitor and crack down on activities that disrupt distribution order, such as mass purchases of masks using macro programs.

Furthermore, the special crackdown team will cooperate with the government-wide joint crackdown task force, which includes the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the National Tax Service, and the Fair Trade Commission, to enhance the effectiveness of the crackdown and notify administrative measures such as fines for violations. Currently, 30 police investigators are dispatched to the government-wide joint crackdown task force on mask hoarding, and 152 police officers are dispatched to the joint crackdown task force on emergency supply adjustment measures.

A National Police Agency official stated, “We will strictly prosecute those who take unfair personal gains by exploiting the national crisis situation,” and added, “We ask for active reporting of illegal activities and mature civic awareness.”