Prosecutors' Dark Web Investigation Team Indicts Group for 'Cannabis Cultivation → Telegram Sales'

A group involved in selling marijuana grown at home through a Telegram chatroom has been brought to trial.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 8th, the Violent Crimes Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Shin Junho) indicted Jeong (38) and Park (37) on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act for cultivating and selling marijuana. Their accomplice Baek (38), who assisted in cultivating the marijuana, was also indicted without detention.

The Central Prosecutors' Office 'Dark Web Investigation Team,' composed of narcotics investigators, discovered evidence of their marijuana sales while analyzing Telegram channels and apprehended the group after tracking them down.

The group was investigated for cultivating marijuana in an apartment in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, where they resided, for about nine months starting from May last year, and for possessing and smoking it. It was also found that they posted dozens of messages in their Telegram chatroom advertising marijuana sales, receiving virtual currency and other payments in exchange.

The investigation team seized 13 marijuana plants being cultivated and dried at their residence, 580g of marijuana, and cultivation equipment including a tent for growing marijuana.

The prosecution plans to continue investigating marijuana distributors and buyers connected to Jeong's group. On the 21st of last month, the prosecution, centered on the newly established Special Investigation Team for Drug Crimes, announced plans to strengthen crackdowns and punishments on narcotics distribution conducted through social networking services (SNS) such as the dark web and Telegram, in cooperation with the Korea Internet & Security Agency, public health centers, customs, and local governments.