Sold 26,000 Units of Growth Hormones and Ephedrine via Social Media
Mother and Son Arrested for Illegal Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Sales
Unapproved Steroids and Prescription Drugs Worth 1.26 Billion Won Seized
A family was caught illegally manufacturing and selling unapproved pharmaceuticals, including steroids, worth approximately 1.26 billion won.
On July 22, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that it had apprehended a mother and son who sold illegal pharmaceuticals valued at 1.26 billion won. The son, identified as the main perpetrator, was arrested on charges of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes Related to Health. Both the son and the mother, who acted as an accomplice, were referred to the prosecution.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety obtained information about the illegal manufacturer while investigating unapproved steroid distributors, and subsequently conducted an on-site raid. Authorities seized gift certificates worth approximately 20 million won, about 16,000 finished and semi-finished pharmaceutical products, manufacturing equipment, and related materials such as vials, containers, stickers, and packaging. An official investigation was then launched.
The investigation revealed that from January 2023 to April 2024, the suspects sold approximately 23,000 units (worth about 1.24 billion won) of unapproved pharmaceuticals?including steroids, growth hormones, and ephedrine?either imported or manufactured by themselves, primarily through social networking services (SNS).
They also sold about 900 units (worth about 20 million won) of domestically approved prescription drugs, such as liver function supplements, which buyers often take alongside steroids to reduce side effects.
In the early stages of their operation, from January 2023 to April 2024, the suspects imported and sold finished products like unapproved steroids and growth hormones via overseas direct purchase websites. However, starting in April of last year, they began manufacturing unapproved steroids and growth hormones themselves in order to increase their profits.
The son oversaw raw material procurement, manufacturing, and sales. He set up manufacturing facilities in an officetel near their residence, installing equipment such as vial capping machines and container sealing machines. He imported semi-finished products (large-volume pharmaceuticals in vials and containers) from India and China. The mother was responsible for the manufacturing process and shipping the products via parcel delivery.
To evade law enforcement, they received payments from around 1,800 buyers in the form of mobile gift certificates or cash and gift certificates deposited in unmanned parcel lockers.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, "The seized steroid preparations and other products were not manufactured in the strict environments required for legitimate pharmaceuticals, and their use can cause severe side effects such as bacterial infections, immune system destruction, and sexual dysfunction." The agency emphasized, "We will continue to actively crack down on the illegal manufacture and sale of unapproved pharmaceuticals and impose strict penalties."
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