9,498 Drug Offenders Arrested from January to August
It has been revealed that the number of drug offenders arrested by the police from January to August this year reached 9,500.
According to data received on the 21st by the office of Jeong Chunsang, a member of the National Assembly's Administration and Security Committee from the Innovation Party, from the National Police Agency, the total number of drug offenders arrested from January to August this year was 9,498.
Looking specifically at the types of drugs, synthetic drugs accounted for the largest number with 7,007 people (73.7%), followed by narcotics with 1,457 people (15.3%), and cannabis with 1,025 people (10.8%). By type of offense, there were 4,434 cases of consumption (46.7%), 3,679 cases of sales (38.7%), 1,237 cases of illicit cultivation (the act of illegally and secretly cultivating drugs) (13.0%), 124 cases of smuggling (1.3%), and 24 cases of manufacturing (0.2%).
The number of drug offenders arrested over the past five years has steadily increased, with 10,411 in 2019, 12,209 in 2020, 12,387 in 2021, and 17,817 in 2023, marking a record high last year. The quantity of drugs seized by type up to August this year compared to the same period last year increased by 5,870% for cannabis seeds, 903.4% for cocaine, 258.6% for hashish, 217.9% for GHB (commonly known as "mulppong"), and 37.8% for poppy seeds.
Representative Jeong said, "The harm caused by drugs is already occurring throughout our society," and added, "The police must concentrate their investigative efforts to prevent drugs from taking root any further."
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