Murder, Arson, Sexual Assault: The Domino Effect of Crime... Hidden Drug Offenders Far Exceed Imagination [News Inside ③]

The Gates of Hell Opened by Drugs
Drug Addiction Leads to Violent Crime
Now Taking on a Collective Nature, Unlike the Past
Crimes Related to Distribution Are Increasing
Detected Crimes Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg
Research Finds the 'Dark Figure' Is 29 Times Higher
"Statistics from Investigative Agencies Do Not Reflect Reality"

In January, a man in his 20s was arrested by police in a studio apartment in Seoul. At the scene, various synthetic drugs, marijuana, syringes, and liquid nicotine e-cigarettes were scattered around. Investigation revealed that the suspect was a university student in the Seoul metropolitan area who, together with friends, had been buying and selling drugs via social media and using them collectively. In February of last year, an extreme incident occurred in a home in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, where a man in his 50s, under the influence of drugs, suspected his wife and son of having an affair and brandished a weapon. This is a case where drug addiction destroyed a person's humanity.

The impact of drug addiction does not end with mere possession or use. Drug addiction sometimes triggers a butterfly effect that leads to horrific violent crimes, such as murder, arson, sexual assault, and unlawful confinement. Some steal to obtain money for drugs, and illegal financial transactions for drug deals are taking place somewhere at this very moment. Drugs open the 'gates of hell,' setting off a domino effect of crime.

The Butterfly Effect of Drug Addiction: Violent Crime

In March, the Supreme Court sentenced a man in his 20s to 30 years in prison. On April 20 of the previous year, he strangled his girlfriend to death while in a drug-induced hallucination. Investigation found that, from two days to eight hours before the crime, he had injected 1g of methamphetamine three times and, while intoxicated, argued with the victim over suspicions of infidelity before committing the crime. The defense argued diminished responsibility, but the court rejected this, stating, "This is a case where potential danger was realized to an extreme degree, making the illegality very serious."

There are also cases where neighbors and family members have been put at risk. On April 2 in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, a 55-year-old man under the influence of drugs set fire to his apartment building in the early morning, forcing dozens of residents to evacuate urgently. He had injected methamphetamine several times at two to three hour intervals, and, in a hallucinatory state, committed the crime after becoming delusional that someone was trying to kill him. He was arrested by police after coming down to the first floor.

Drugs are also used as a means to commit sexual crimes. In 2023, two men in their 30s forced victims to smoke marijuana, then sexually assaulted them and filmed the acts on their mobile phones. More than 20 victims were identified in this case, and some only learned they had been assaulted during the police investigation. A year earlier, an employee at an entertainment establishment in Seoul died after drinking alcohol offered by a customer; the drink contained methamphetamine.

Drug-related crimes are directly linked to side effects such as hallucinations, paranoia, and impulse control disorders, both mentally and physically. An attorney with extensive experience in drug investigations said, "Unlike in the past, when people secretly used drugs alone, there is now a trend of multiple people using drugs together," adding, "As these crimes become more collective, there is growing concern about increasingly serious violent crimes."

Crimes related to drug distribution are also on the rise. In the past, drug transactions were mainly conducted in cash, leading to money laundering crimes. Recently, however, non-face-to-face transactions using virtual assets such as Bitcoin, which are much harder to trace, have increased, making it even easier to hide funds. The concealment and conversion of illegal profits has become simpler, raising the possibility that this will lead to new forms of organized money laundering.

Hidden Crimes Far Exceed Imagination... Research Suggests "29 Times Higher"

The drug crimes that are detected are just the tip of the iceberg. Crimes related to drugs lurk in places that are not reported or are beyond the reach of investigative authorities.

According to a 2019 study by Professor Park Sungsoo's research team at Semyung University, titled "A Study on the Dark Figure of Narcotics Crimes," the dark figure (the ratio of unreported or undetected crimes) for drug-related offenses in Korea is as high as 28.57 times. This estimate covers all types of drug crimes, from simple use to manufacturing, smuggling, and illegal importation. This is nearly three times higher than the government's previous estimate of ten times. The study included surveys and interviews with various professional groups, such as academics, drug-related public officials, pharmacists, and staff at private treatment facilities.

The research team pointed out the structural limitations of drug crime statistics, noting, "Statistics collected mainly based on investigative agencies' detection records do not accurately reflect reality." Because investigative performance is directly tied to institutional results, information sharing is limited, and even for the same crime, differences in statistical collection methods between agencies make consistent data analysis difficult.

In particular, since COVID-19, drug distribution has become more non-face-to-face and digitalized, and the base of drug users has expanded, raising the possibility that undetected crimes have increased even further. Professor Park said, "The numbers revealed in arrest statistics are merely 'fish caught in a pond,'" adding, "Rather than focusing on the number of arrests or statistics, there needs to be a shift in perception toward prioritizing prevention of recidivism, treatment, and rehabilitation."

To Prevent Crime, the 'Root' Must Be Cut Off

Given the enormous extent of hidden drug use and the domino effect of crime it causes, judicial and investigative agencies are fundamentally changing their approach. They now view drugs as the root of serial crime and are determined to sever this connection. Prosecutors determine the level of punishment for drug offenders by comprehensively considering the social impact, whether the offender shows remorse, and the possibility of treatment. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office revised its investigation and prosecution guidelines this year, and now applies the principle of seeking prison sentences even for simple users if public harm is confirmed. As of 2024, the rate of prison sentences in first-instance drug-related cases has exceeded 60%.