Promotion of Drug Deals via Twitter and Other SNS
Using Specific Slang to Secretly Contact Customers
Evading Tracking Using Secret Messengers and Cryptocurrency
40% of Drug Offenders Are in Their Teens and Twenties
Police: "The Age of Drug Contact Is Getting Lower"
A Twitter account promoting drug trafficking. Emphasizing that the drugs they sell are genuine, they posted a 'certification shot' of the product. / Photo by Twitter capture
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] "Selling high-purity OOO.", "Please inquire via Telegram."
As drug transactions using social networking services (SNS) are rampant, drug offenders among teenagers and people in their 20s are also increasing. They use specific slang to secretly exchange drug-related information, and when making actual transactions, they show carefulness by using encrypted messengers or virtual currencies to avoid being traced.
On the morning of the 21st, many illegal drug trading accounts were found just by searching for specific drug names on popular SNS such as Twitter and Facebook.
They promote their products by listing slang terms for drugs and compete in advertising by saying things like "We provide purer and higher quality drugs than other dealers," and "We will repay you with quality."
Some accounts even upload so-called 'certification shots' by taking pictures of drugs in bags to emphasize that they are not scams.
Those who sell drugs through SNS are known to use specific slang to secretly contact customers. / Photo by Twitter Capture
When confirming the intention to purchase drugs through DM (direct message) on SNS, they are known to share specific transaction methods in encrypted messenger rooms such as Telegram and then exchange drugs offline. It is also reported that some drug transactions use virtual currencies, which are difficult to trace the flow of money.
Given the characteristics of SNS mainly used by teenagers and people in their 20s, the possibility that adolescents and young adults can easily access drug-related information is also problematic. Since illegal drug transactions are mostly conducted anonymously, there is a concern that even teenagers can purchase and use drugs if they wish.
Cases of teenagers and people in their 20s being caught for using or distributing illegal drugs have been continuously occurring recently.
Last month, a controversy arose when 42 teenagers were caught in large numbers by the police after obtaining prescriptions for narcotic painkillers under other people's names and then selling or using them.
On the 30th of the same month, a woman in her 20s who tried to receive drugs contained in a paper bag through a delivery service was caught by the police following a report from a courier service worker.
As a result of intensive crackdowns by the police from March to May, it was found that drug offenders in their teens and twenties accounted for about 40% of the total. / Photo by Yonhap News
According to police data, the number of drug offenders among domestic teenagers and young adults has been rapidly increasing recently.
The National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters conducted a focused crackdown on drug offenders over three months from March to May, arresting a total of 2,626 people and detaining 614. Among them, the proportion of drug offenders in their teens and twenties reached 40% of the total, an increase of 11.7 percentage points compared to last year (28.3%).
Given this situation, citizens are expressing concern. There are warnings that if illegal drugs, which are dangerous even to adults, are distributed to teenagers and people in their 20s, the social damage could be immense.
A man in his 20s, office worker A, who heard through the news that drug offenders in their teens and twenties are increasing recently, said, "I don't know where or how kids get such things. It's really shocking," and expressed his worried feelings, saying, "I am concerned because I think the youth drug problem in our country could grow like overseas."
A woman in her 40s, housewife B, said, "Doesn't this mean that my child could learn about drugs by hanging out with bad friends?" and vented her frustration, saying, "The phrase 'drug-free country' has become a thing of the past, and I don't know what the government has been doing until it got to this point."
Meanwhile, the police emphasized the need for preventive measures to stop the expansion of drug distribution among teenagers.
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