"Drug War... Blocking Overseas Distribution at the Source and Suppressing Domestic Demand Simultaneously" [News Inside 6 - End]

Interview with Norman Seok, Chief Prosecutor of the Drug Organized Crime Division
Prestigious University Club Drug Case
A Warning Sign of a Structural Crisis in Society
Recent Use of Virtual Assets and Cryptocurrencies
Digital Investigations Using Telegram Now Essential
Cooperation with Interpol to Investigate Overseas Organizations... Investigators Dispatched

"I am also shocked by the reality that young intellectuals are so easily exposed to drugs."

Norman Seok, Chief Prosecutor of the Drug Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, described the so-called "prestigious university club drug case" as "shocking" in an interview with Asia Economy. This case involved a club of several hundred members, including students from major universities in Seoul, who engaged in group drug use, distribution, and sexual activities. They communicated via online communities and purchased and used drugs such as ecstasy and LSD together.

Norman Seok, Chief Prosecutor of the Drug Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

Chief Prosecutor Seok stated, "This is not just a simple case of deviance; it could be a signal of a structural crisis that the entire society needs to wake up to." He added, "Drugs are among the most serious forms of transnational crime, crossing borders. No single country can solve this problem on its own." The Drug Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office serves as the control tower overseeing drug investigations nationwide.

- What are the recent trends in drug crimes?

▲The importation of drugs is no longer limited to methamphetamine; a wider variety of drugs are now entering the country. The range now includes marijuana, ecstasy, LSD, and cocaine. Smuggling methods and routes?such as maritime smuggling, air cargo, and body packers (smuggling drugs concealed within the body)?have also become more daring. In the past, seizing just 1 kg was considered a major case, but nowadays, there are many instances where cocaine is brought in quantities of 10 kg or 14 kg.

- It seems that drug crimes are becoming increasingly organized.

▲Compared to other countries, South Korea’s investigative agencies maintain relatively strict control over drug-related matters. However, from the suppliers' perspective, this actually increases the price of drugs, as a "risk premium" is added for having to evade law enforcement. Because the risks involved in distribution are so high, suppliers can make huge profits even with a single successful operation. In fact, among foreign drug kingpins, there is a saying that "if you succeed just once out of ten attempts in South Korea, you hit the jackpot." There are many cases where drugs are brought in using body packers, and even when someone is caught, replacement personnel are immediately deployed to keep the organization running. Roles are strictly compartmentalized, so members often do not even know each other's faces. Even if a courier is apprehended, they often do not know their superiors, which makes investigations very challenging.

- What is the situation regarding drug transactions using virtual assets or stablecoins?

▲In the past, the saying "follow the money to find the criminal" held true, as tracing bank accounts would reveal the structure of the crime. The situation today is different. Although drug distribution is ultimately a crime for profit, stablecoins and cryptocurrencies are now primarily used. Since transactions are based on anonymity, it is difficult to track the flow of funds. That is why the prosecution is treating this as an economic crime and developing investigative techniques for virtual assets. Digital tracking experts are being deployed in investigations, and collaboration with outside specialists is also underway. There are now practical cases where these methods are being applied.

- Is there a need to change investigative methods as well?

▲On-site crackdowns alone are no longer sufficient. Nowadays, we need to track Telegram, the dark web, and virtual assets. Drug investigations have become "technology-based investigations." Digital forensic capabilities and information analysis skills are now essential, and we are building up personnel and systems in these areas as well.

Norman Seok, Chief Prosecutor of the Drug Organized Crime Division at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yongjun

- What is the prosecution’s role in drug investigations?

▲Drug offenders are largely categorized as suppliers, distributors, or simple possession/use offenders. Since supplying and distributing drugs are crimes for economic gain, they are considered economic crimes, and the prosecution can investigate them directly. In contrast, simple use is not for economic purposes, so investigative authority is given only to the police. However, when investigating possession or use, it often leads to uncovering distribution and, further, supply offenders. Under the current system, the prosecution cannot oversee the entire process. There are nearly 350 investigators at the prosecution who specialize in drug investigations. For a more organic response to crime, the prosecution should also be able to investigate simple possession/use offenders. The prosecution’s role should be expanded within the overall national response system.

- How is international cooperation structured?

▲There was a case where, in cooperation with Interpol, a drug supplier was apprehended in Thailand. Domestically, there are often only simple users or collectors, while the actual supply organizations are frequently based overseas. International cooperation is essential to break this structure. The prosecution refers to this as "origin-targeting international cooperation investigations." Although the term may sound grand, the key is to block drugs from the very point where they are first produced and distributed. Drug investigation specialists are being dispatched overseas. Investigators have been sent to Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and there are plans to send one to Cambodia in the second half of this year.

- What measures are there to curb drug demand?

▲The drug problem cannot be solved unless demand is reduced. Of course, cutting off supply is the role of investigative agencies, but at the same time, demand must be reduced through prevention and treatment. For simple users, we are considering measures such as conditional non-prosecution linked to hospital treatment or social reintegration. I believe we are truly at a turning point in drug investigations. The prosecution has identified drugs as one of its key challenges and is focusing intensely on this issue. We will work tirelessly to restore South Korea's status as a drug-free nation.