Advance Notice of Designation of 9 Temporary Narcotics Including Isotonitazene

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 21st that it will designate or re-designate nine substances, including 'Isotonitazene,' which are used as illegal narcotics domestically and internationally, as temporary narcotics.

Among the five substances newly designated as temporary narcotics, including Isotonitazene, these are regulated substances in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, and there have been cases of detection through crackdowns in Korea as well.

In particular, Isotonitazene is an opioid that acts on the central nervous system and has a chemical structure similar to the narcotic 'Etonitazene,' raising concerns about its potential for abuse. It has been detected in numerous death cases caused by narcotics overseas.

The four substances, including Deschloroketamine, which are being re-designated as temporary narcotics, have their designation validity expiring on December 7. Considering the risk to public health due to potential abuse as substitutes for narcotics, they will be re-designated as temporary narcotics for the next three years.

Substances designated as temporary narcotics are treated and managed the same as narcotics from the date of designation notice, and possession, ownership, use, management, export/import, manufacture, sale, mediation of sale, and receipt are all completely prohibited and subject to seizure.

From the time of announcement as temporary narcotics, exporting/importing, manufacturing, selling, mediating sales, or receiving Class 1 temporary narcotics will be punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment of five years or more.

For Class 2 temporary narcotics, exporting/importing or manufacturing is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 100 million won, and selling, mediating sales, or receiving is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "We expect that the new and re-designation of temporary narcotics will help prevent the distribution of new illegal narcotics in advance," and added, "We will continue to work to prevent harm to public health caused by illegal narcotics through cooperation with related agencies such as the prosecution, police, and customs."