70 Arrested for Distributing and Using 'Drugs for 10,000 People' in Gangnam and Other Areas

Drug Seizure Worth 623.57 Million Won
69 of 70 Arrested Are in Their 20s to 30s

Seventy suspects involved in distributing and using drugs on a scale capable of simultaneously dosing nearly 10,000 people were arrested by the police.

A party room in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, remodeled from a studio apartment by drug dealer Mr. Lee (37) to facilitate drug use. [Image source=Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Narcotics Investigation Unit]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 30th that they had apprehended a total of 70 suspects accused of buying, selling, possessing, and using narcotics at clubs, entertainment establishments, and resorts across the country, with eight of them being detained. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Kim Mo (24), the ringleader who fled to Thailand, and he is currently wanted through both a national warrant and an Interpol red notice.

During the arrests, the police seized narcotics worth approximately 623.57 million KRW and criminal proceeds amounting to 19.15 million KRW. The confiscated drugs included seven types: 1,391g of synthetic marijuana, 74g of methamphetamine, 510 tablets of yaba, 113g of ketamine, 34 sheets of LSD, 44 ecstasy tablets, and 1,601g of marijuana. Considering the typical dosage per use, this quantity is sufficient for about 9,812 doses.

They reportedly distributed drugs using a method known as "throwing." According to the police, Kim used Telegram to sell drugs, and the sellers would pre-store the narcotics in one-room apartments, where buyers would then pick them up directly.

Among the 70 arrested, there were 15 male and 3 female sellers, and 33 male and 19 female buyers and users. Except for one buyer in his 40s, all were in their 20s to 30s. Their occupations were identified as entertainment venue hosts and employees, company workers, and others. The police expect that a travel ban order will be issued for those arrested as early as today.

Buyers mainly used narcotics at clubs, entertainment venues, hotels, resorts, and residences in areas such as Gangnam and Seocho districts in Seoul, Daerim and Garibong-dong in Guro-gu, Gangwon, and Busan. It was also revealed that some buyers used narcotics during birthday parties at entertainment establishments. One of the sellers, Lee Mo (37), converted a one-room apartment in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, into a party room to facilitate drug use.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Investigation Unit plans to conduct year-round, continuous crackdowns not only on clubs and entertainment venues but also on smuggling, large-scale distribution offenders, and those distributing narcotics through SNS and virtual assets. Nam Seong-shin, head of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division 1 at the Seoul Police Agency, stated, "The distribution of narcotics is a serious crime that harms society beyond individual issues. We thoroughly protect the identity of informants and provide rewards for reports, so we urge active reporting."