Resident Finds 1kg of Ketamine on the Coast
Possible Influx via Southeast Asian Ocean Currents
Drugs disguised as tea have once again been discovered along the coast of Jeju. This marks the 17th such discovery in Jeju alone.
On December 9, the Jeju Coast Guard announced that at approximately 7:15 a.m., a resident reported finding about 1 kilogram of ketamine packed in a green Chinese oolong tea bag on the coast of Udo-myeon, Jeju City. The resident reportedly discovered the ketamine while participating in a coastal cleanup activity.
Most of these packages are long and labeled "oolong tea" in Chinese characters, each containing about 1 kilogram of the drug in a separate form. Although ketamine is approved as a medical anesthetic, inhaling large amounts can cause hallucinations and memory impairment, classifying it as a new type of drug. In South Korea, it is designated as a psychotropic substance.
The Coast Guard collected the green tea packaging with Chinese writing from the coastline. It was confirmed to be identical in form to the previously discovered packaging that contained about 1 kilogram of ketamine. The Coast Guard also reported that a rapid reagent test on the liquid leaking from inside the package tested positive for ketamine.
Including this case, this is the 17th official discovery of narcotics in Jeju.
Last month, about 1 kilogram of ketamine was also discovered in a wetland near the coast of Hadori, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City. The initial discovery was made by a researcher conducting a plant survey, and the package closely resembled previously found tea bags used to disguise ketamine.
The dates and locations of ketamine discoveries are as follows: September 29 in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo City (20 kilograms); October 24 in Aewol-eup, Jeju City; October 31 in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City; November 1 in Jeju Port, Geonip-dong, Jeju City; November 4 in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City; November 7 in Yongdam Port, Jeju City; November 10 in Dongbok-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City; November 10 in Aewol-eup, Jeju City; November 11 in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City; November 11 in Udo-myeon, Jeju City; November 12 in Udo-myeon, Jeju City (two cases); November 17 in Udo; November 18 in Udo; November 19 in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City; and November 26 in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City. With the exception of the case in Seongsan-eup, each package contained 1 kilogram of ketamine.
The Coast Guard is investigating the connection and possible entry routes of these narcotics in Jeju, Pohang, and Yeongdeok. Previously, authorities indicated that they are focusing on the possibility that the drugs may have drifted in from Southeast Asia via ocean currents.
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