A foreigner attempting to smuggle narcotics via international mail was sentenced to imprisonment.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Western Branch of Busan District Court (Chief Judge Lee Jin-jae) announced on the 17th that it sentenced a foreigner in his 30s, Mr. A, who was prosecuted for violating the Narcotics Control Act, to five years in prison.
Mr. A was caught at airport customs in April of this year while trying to receive narcotics such as ketamine ordered online through international commercial mail.
Mr. A partially denied the charges, stating, "It is true that I tried to buy narcotics, but I thought I was purchasing from a domestic seller and did not know the shipment was from overseas, so I had no intent to import."
However, based on the fact that Mr. A wrote the recipient's address in English, the court judged that he was aware from the time of ordering that the narcotics might be imported from abroad and tolerated it.
The court stated, "Crimes related to narcotics are difficult to detect, have a high risk of recidivism, and have a very negative impact on society, so there is a need for severe punishment."
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