Over 16,000 Drug Offenders Caught in 2019, Highest Ever Recorded

Prosecutor General's Office Publishes '2019 Drug Crime White Paper'... Sharp Increase in Detection of New Drugs

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The number of drug offenders caught in 2019 reached an all-time high. New types of drugs also increased, and the number of juvenile drug offenders rose significantly.

The Anti-Corruption and Strong Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Shim Jae-cheol) announced on the 31st that it had published the "2019 Drug Crime White Paper," which records domestic and international drug crime trends, on the 29th.

According to the prosecution, the number of drug offenders last year was 16,044, a 27.2% increase compared to the previous year (12,613). This is the highest figure since the Supreme Prosecutors' Office began compiling annual drug offender statistics in 1990.

The number of supply offenders caught through clandestine manufacturing and smuggling was 4,225, up 28.3% from 3,292 the previous year.

This increase was largely attributed to the rapid rise of new types of drugs such as "hemp cookies."

Last year, the total amount of drugs seized was 362 kg, down from 415 kg the previous year, while new types of drugs increased from 48.2 kg to 82.7 kg.

Photo by Getty Images Bank

New types of drugs are relatively low-priced but have strong hallucinogenic effects, and they are easily purchased through social media or the internet, spreading rapidly among young people and foreigners.

The number of juvenile drug offenders under 19 years old also rose sharply from 143 in 2018 to 239 last year, an increase of 67.1%. The prosecution analyzed that the widespread use of smartphones made it easy for youths to be exposed to online drug sales advertisements.

The number of foreign drug offenders was 1,529, a 61.3% increase from 948 the year before. Last year was the first time the number of foreign offenders caught exceeded 1,000.

The prosecution plans to focus enforcement capabilities on major supply offenders who bring drugs into the country from abroad to block supply at its source.

To this end, the "International Drug Organization Tracking Investigation Team" was established last year, and the international cooperation system with overseas law enforcement agencies has been strengthened.

Additionally, to cut off the root causes of crime motivation, the prosecution will thoroughly recover proceeds from drug crimes, expand treatment and rehabilitation to reduce drug demand, and strengthen prevention activities.