Government to Shorten Temporary Narcotics Designation Period from 52 to 40 Days

Bang Moon-gyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, "Do Your Best to Respond with the Determination of a War on Drugs"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The government is pushing to shorten the temporary designation period for controlled substances from the current 52 days to around 40 days to prevent drug-related crimes.

On the afternoon of the 27th, the government held a Drug Control Measures Council meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, chaired by Bang Moon-kyu, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, to discuss this matter. Director Bang urged, "All ministries should respond to drug crimes with the determination of waging a war on drugs and do their best to treat and rehabilitate drug addicts so that they can return to society as soon as possible."

In response to the recent increase in drug offenders in their teens to thirties and the social issues arising from illegal, excessive, and duplicate prescriptions of medical narcotics such as fentanyl, the government announced a 'Comprehensive Drug Control Plan' last October, which includes strengthened crackdowns, treatment for addicts, and preventive education. At this meeting, the progress of the comprehensive plan by related ministries was reviewed, and this year's implementation plans for each task were discussed.

According to the meeting report, the Korea Customs Service revealed that cases of non-face-to-face drug smuggling using international mail and express parcels increased from 371 cases (88 kg) in 2020 to 657 cases (587 kg) last year. The National Police Agency reported that it cracked down on 3,092 internet drug offenders last year.

Going forward, the government plans to regularly hold the Drug Control Measures Council to review the progress of the comprehensive plan and to significantly shorten the temporary controlled substances designation period.

Meanwhile, deputy heads from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, National Police Agency, Korea Coast Guard, Korea Customs Service, Korea Communications Commission, National Forensic Service, and National Intelligence Service attended the meeting.