NIS Apprehends Group Attempting Large-Scale Smuggling of New Drug Targeting South Korea

First Case of Preemptive Interception of New Drug Smuggling Attempt

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has apprehended members of an international drug trafficking organization who attempted to smuggle a large quantity of a new type of drug into South Korea, in cooperation with Malaysian authorities.

The NIS Transnational Crime Intelligence Center (TCIC), working with the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of Malaysia, announced on July 8 that they had arrested four members of the international drug organization?including the ringleader, a 31-year-old Singaporean named Ivan?on June 19 in Malaysia, for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of the new drug etomidate into South Korea.

According to the NIS, the suspects are accused of mixing etomidate with cocaine in intermediate transit locations such as Malaysia, injecting the mixture into liquid-type electronic cigarettes, and then attempting to smuggle and distribute 20,000 units per month (enough for 200,000 simultaneous doses) into South Korea.

During the arrest, the NIS and local investigative authorities seized 4,958 synthetic drug cartridges (9.42 liters, valued at 2.3 billion won), enough for 500,000 simultaneous doses, along with over 3,000 paper boxes for packaging electronic cigarettes. Authorities are particularly focused on investigating the circumstances behind the addition of cocaine to etomidate, which appears to have been done to maximize hallucinogenic effects and addictiveness.

Previously, in May, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime warned of the dangers of electronic cigarette-type etomidate, which is spreading mainly in Southeast Asian countries. The agency noted that the content and dosage are unknown, making it potentially fatal to humans, and reported cases where synthetic drug ingredients such as ketamine have also been mixed in.

In South Korea, etomidate became known through the so-called "Rolls-Royce Man" case in 2023. It is a general anesthetic that requires a doctor's prescription, but unlike propofol, it is not classified as a narcotic. Illegally manufactured etomidate, in particular, has unclear composition and dosage, which can result in fatal consequences, including death.

The NIS began tracking the possible entry of international drug organizations into South Korea after countries such as Thailand and Hong Kong strengthened crackdowns on etomidate. Ivan, who had frequently traveled to South Korea since 2023, was identified as a prime suspect. He posed as a businessman by establishing a headhunting firm in Gangnam, Seoul. Ivan was found to have approached Korean students with study experience in Singapore, secretly building a domestic distribution network by promoting etomidate as a "drug that cannot be detected by law enforcement."

The NIS determined that the influx of etomidate electronic cigarettes into South Korea?where e-cigarettes are widely used?would pose a serious threat to public health and safety. As a result, the agency decided to preemptively block the drug overseas and dispatched international crime officers to Malaysia, a key transit point for drug trafficking.

The NIS stated, "This is the first case in which an international drug cartel attempting to smuggle a large quantity of a new type of drug, which exists in a legal gray area, into South Korea has been preemptively neutralized overseas. We will continue to carry out early warning activities against international crime with no gaps, in order to protect the safety and lives of the public, which is the top priority of the new government."