The police recently arrested more than 5,000 drug offenders over the past four months and decided to increase dedicated investigation personnel by 2.5 times in the future.
The Korean National Police Agency announced on the 17th that it had carried out a concentrated crackdown from March 1 to June 30, arresting 5,109 drug offenders, of whom 964 were detained.
By type of drug, ▲ psychotropic drugs (methamphetamine, synthetic cannabis, etc.) accounted for 4,151 people (81.2%), ▲ narcotics (opium, cocaine, fentanyl, etc.) 530 people (10.4%), and ▲ cannabis (marijuana, hash oil, etc.) 421 people (8.1%) in order.
Online drug offenders numbered 1,878, an increase of 28.2% compared to the same period last year. Among all age groups, those in their 10s to 30s, who have high internet accessibility, accounted for 61.8%. Medical drug offenders totaled 309, and foreign drug offenders were 734.
The amount seized of the three types of drugs known as 'club drugs'—methamphetamine, ecstasy, and ketamine—was 153 kilograms, nearly four times the 39 kilograms seized last year. A considerable amount was smuggled into the country via international courier or by hand and then repackaged for distribution domestically.
As drug use continues to spread despite previous crackdowns, the police announced 'special measures.' First, 78 teams from criminal units across the country will be reassigned as dedicated drug investigation personnel, and 27 international crime investigation teams in provincial offices will focus on responding to foreign drug crimes. This will increase the dedicated investigation personnel from the original 378 to 942, a 2.5-fold increase.
A 'virtual asset dedicated tracking and investigation team' will be established in the Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Gyeongnam police agencies, assigning 41 personnel. They will analyze the flow of funds centered on virtual assets, which have become a means for drug transactions, to understand the supply chain. They will also crack down on illegal asset traders who facilitate transaction payments and money laundering, and will be responsible for recovering illegal funds.
The police will continue the second half of the year's concentrated crackdown from the 18th of this month until January 31 of next year.
They will conduct tailored investigations focusing on four drug markets: online, medical, club entertainment venues, and foreigners, while simultaneously implementing economic sanctions and blocking funds.
The 82-member 'online dedicated team' will focus on investigating distribution routes such as ▲ advertising agents ▲ mules (colloquially 'drafters') ▲ smugglers ▲ operational channel managers. In the medical market, joint inspections with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will be conducted to crack down on the abuse of psychotropic drug prescriptions in hospitals and clinics. For clubs and entertainment venues where drug use has occurred, measures such as business suspensions will be taken, and those providing the location will face charges of aiding and providing the space.
In line with the second half of the year's drug crackdown, the police will also implement concentrated crackdowns on organized crime and international offenses. The aim is to crack down on drug distribution and money laundering involving organized crime, as well as illegal profit-making businesses and overseas investment fraud linked to drug funds.
Park Sung-joo, head of the National Investigation Agency, noted, 'The reason for promoting special measures is that this is the golden time to protect the safety of the people from drugs,' and urged active reporting.