"Poppies Planted for Beauty"... 6,000 Plants Discovered in Wando Island Village Crackdown

Joint Land, Sea, and Air Crackdown
Three Residents Prosecuted

On May 20, the Wando Coast Guard announced that on the previous day, it had conducted a joint land, sea, and air operation to eradicate the illegal cultivation of narcotics such as poppies and cannabis, and apprehended three individuals on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act.

Wando Coast Guard's aerial footage of the poppy cultivation site in Sinji-myeon, Wando-gun. Provided by Wando Coast Guard

This operation focused on areas with a high likelihood of concealing narcotics, including ports, harbors, coastal areas, and fish farm surroundings in island regions. As a result of the crackdown, illegally cultivated poppies were discovered in Sinji, Gogeum, and Jangheung in South Jeolla Province, with quantities ranging from at least 48 to more than 6,000 plants.

There have been ongoing concerns that, due to the nature of island regions, external enforcement is difficult, and habitual illegal cultivation of narcotics continues because of residents' low awareness.

The Coast Guard carried out land and maritime enforcement operations centered on the Investigation Division and Criminal Task Force, while also conducting aerial searches in cooperation with the Mokpo Aviation Unit under the West Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, implementing a multi-faceted crackdown.

A Coast Guard official stated, "Many people cultivate poppies for ornamental or folk remedy purposes without recognizing them as narcotics, but if intentionality is established, even planting a single poppy will result in punishment without exception," emphasizing, "Active interest and reports from local residents are the key to eradicating narcotics."