Four Arrested and Sent to Prosecution for Distributing Drugs to 7,000 People Linked to 'Gangnam Entertainment Venue Death' (Comprehensive)

Four Distributors Remain Silent
Most Squandered After 'Cash Transactions'... Difficult to Recover Criminal Proceeds

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Four drug distributors related to the Gangnam entertainment district death case have been handed over to the prosecution while in custody. They remained silent when reporters asked if they admitted to the charges during the transfer process.

On the 5th at 7:47 a.m., the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul transferred four distributors, including a man in his 50s identified as Mr. A, to the prosecution on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act. Mr. A wore a dark navy bucket hat pulled down and a mask, and was immediately taken away in a transport vehicle.

He left the police station without responding to questions such as "Do you admit the charges?", "What was your relationship with the deceased man?", "Since when have you been dealing drugs and through what channels did you purchase them?", and "Do you regret your crime?".

Mr. A is suspected of selling drugs to Mr. B, a man in his 20s who died after taking a substance suspected to be methamphetamine at a Gangnam entertainment venue on the 5th of last month. According to the police, Mr. A and Mr. B first met through drug transactions and are known to have exchanged drugs face-to-face.

The police arrested a total of six people involved in drug use and supply, and applied for arrest warrants for four of them who were judged to have serious charges. The court issued arrest warrants on the 30th of last month, citing "risk of flight," and these four have been under investigation while in custody.

These four are reported to have supplied 184 grams of methamphetamine, 250 grams of marijuana, and approximately 600 ecstasy pills. This amount is enough for about 7,000 people to use.

Most of the drugs they sold were reportedly traded in cash. Since most of the cash has been spent and only a small amount remains, which the police have seized, it is expected to be difficult to recover additional criminal proceeds.

Earlier on the 5th, at an entertainment venue in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, a 30-year-old female employee and Mr. B died after drinking alcohol containing a substance suspected to be drugs. The National Forensic Service's autopsy confirmed the cause of death as "methamphetamine poisoning." At the time of the incident, 64 grams of methamphetamine were found in Mr. B's vehicle, enough for 2,100 people to use at once. Four companions who drank with them tested negative in detailed methamphetamine tests.

The police decided not to prosecute Mr. B posthumously for violating the Narcotics Control Act.

A police official stated, "We will continue to make every effort to arrest drug suppliers even after transferring the case to the prosecution."