"Chinese Drugs Sold at Daerim-dong Variety Store"... Police Arrest Chinese Seller

Suspected Violations of the Narcotics Control Act, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and Tobacco Business Act

A Chinese woman in her 50s who operated a clothing and miscellaneous goods store in the Daerim-dong area of Seoul was arrested by the police for selling drugs.

Exterior view of the store operated by Chinese national A, who was arrested on charges including violation of the Narcotics Control Act, located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency]

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Mobile Patrol Unit announced on the 24th that they arrested a Chinese woman, Ms. A (58), on the spot on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and the Tobacco Business Act.

During crime prevention patrols over the recent Chuseok holiday, the police received a tip from residents that "Chinese-made drugs are sometimes purchased and consumed at ordinary stores," prompting an on-site investigation. They confirmed that these drugs were being secretly traded among Chinese residents in the area.

According to the police, Ms. A is suspected of selling 'Jeongtongpyeon,' which can be classified as a narcotic in Korea, while operating a clothing and miscellaneous goods store in Daerim-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Jeongtongpyeon, along with Geotongpyeon, is used as a painkiller in China, but in Korea, it contains the narcotic ingredient 'phenobarbital' and is designated as a prohibited import item.

The police arrested Ms. A on the spot and seized 112 tablets of Jeongtongpyeon at the scene. Additionally, during a search, they confiscated 160 tablets of the Chinese-made medicine 'Uhwanghaedokpyeon,' which is banned from import, and 540g of unlicensed tobacco leaves.

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "Illegal Chinese medicines sold without authorization can have adverse effects on health, so citizens need to be cautious," and added, "We plan to continue further investigations into the smuggling routes of illegal medicines."