National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Headquarters to Intensify Crackdown Until May
Beyond Simple Use: Sales, Manufacturing, and Smuggling Targeted
Continuous Increase in Internet-Based Crimes
Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency's Narcotics Investigation Unit arrested seven Thai nationals who smuggled drugs disguised as vitamins and distributed them domestically. The photo shows 4.88 kg of methamphetamine and 7,600 yaba pills seized from them by the police. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been confirmed that nearly 800 drug offenders were caught by the police in South Korea last month alone. Not only simple users but also cultivators, sellers, manufacturers, and smugglers were apprehended.
The National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency announced on the 18th that a total of 791 drug offenders were arrested in March, of whom 231 were detained. In response to the recent surge in drug-related crimes, the police have been conducting intensive crackdowns on drug offenders for three months from March to May.
By type of offense, offenders of psychotropic drugs (such as Philopon, synthetic cannabis, and Ecstasy) accounted for the largest number at 615 (77.7%). This was followed by cannabis offenders at 157 (19.8%) and narcotics offenders (such as opium poppy and cocaine) at 19 (2.4%). The police expect the number of arrests to increase as they will conduct focused crackdowns on illegal cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis starting in April.
By crime type, drug use and cultivation offenders numbered 537 (67.9%), sellers 245 (31.0%), and manufacturers and smugglers 9 (1.1%). Notably, offenders using the internet accounted for 27.1% (214 people), an increase from 21.4% last year. By age group, those in their 20s (252 people, 31.9%) and 30s (205 people, 26.0%) made up more than half.
To eradicate drugs, the police are conducting crackdowns not only through drug task forces in metropolitan and provincial police agencies nationwide but also focusing on criminal investigation units. For example, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Drug Crime Investigation Unit arrested a total of 81 people, including 32 who smuggled and directly manufactured Philopon and distributed it domestically from May last year to recently, and 48 who purchased and used it, after over a year of persistent investigation. During this process, they seized 1.2 kg of Philopon worth about 4 billion KRW (enough for simultaneous use by 40,000 people).
A police official emphasized, "We will conduct year-round and continuous crackdowns to alleviate public anxiety about drugs, thoroughly trace and recover illegal profits, and strictly investigate and respond to additional crimes such as sex crimes and violence that follow drug offenses."
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