Drug smuggling capable of simultaneous dosing for 280,000 people... 71 arrested including drug distribution organization

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 16th that they have arrested 71 individuals nationwide, including 26 members of a major domestic drug distribution organization that smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs from Southeast Asia and distributed and sold drugs, as well as 45 people who purchased and used drugs from them. Among them, 22 have been detained. Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A group that smuggled a large quantity of methamphetamine capable of simultaneous use by more than 280,000 people from Southeast Asia has been arrested.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 16th that they arrested 71 people nationwide, including 26 members of a major domestic drug distribution organization who smuggled large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs from Southeast Asia and distributed and sold drugs, as well as 45 people who purchased and used drugs from them. Among them, 22 were detained.

During the investigation, the police arrested 2 sales managers, 1 financial manager, 1 storage and management manager (warehouse keeper), 5 regional sales managers, and 17 intermediate sales managers. They also seized drugs worth about 27 billion KRW, including 6.64 kg of methamphetamine, 5.46 kg of synthetic marijuana, 5,191 ecstasy pills, and 1.04 kg of ketamine, enough for about 287,800 people to use simultaneously. The 6.64 kg of methamphetamine accounts for nearly 27.1% of the 24.5 kg of methamphetamine seized by the police last year. It is enough for 220,000 people to use simultaneously.

The police identified and arrested all members of a major domestic drug distribution organization through a year-long focused investigation after receiving intelligence in October last year about methamphetamine sales targeting Chinese-Koreans. The arrested individuals operated the organization in a cell-like structure from May last year to August this year, with two domestic sales managers (both detained) at the top, regional sales managers in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Chungcheong, and intermediate sales managers below them distributing drugs. It was confirmed that they supplied large quantities of methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana nationwide using so-called 'throwing methods' through social networking services (SNS).

Organizational chart of domestic drug trafficking and sales, including methamphetamine smuggling. Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit

Investigation results revealed that to evade customs surveillance during the smuggling of large quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs, they disassembled vehicle parts locally in Southeast Asia, concealed 500 to 700 grams of methamphetamine inside, and then reassembled the parts to disguise them. These parts were brought into the country via international mail (EMS).

The police have identified the methamphetamine smuggling mastermind residing in Southeast Asia and plan to promptly secure the suspect's custody through close cooperation with local law enforcement agencies along with an Interpol red notice.

A representative of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit stated, "We plan to focus on blocking the spread of drugs in daily life by mobilizing all available investigative resources until the end of the year and conducting 'year-round relentless crackdowns' centered on major drug distribution and supply offenders," adding, "Drugs are highly addictive and cause dependency even if tried once out of curiosity or by mistake, making it difficult to quit. Even if one quits, brain damage can occur, making full recovery difficult, so it is essential not to come into contact with drugs from the beginning."