A suspected drug substance packaged like Chinese "oolong tea" was found on a beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang.
According to the East Sea Regional Coast Guard on Oct. 20, they received a resident report around 10 a.m. on the 15th about the discovery on Imgok-ri Beach in Donghae-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang.
A field inspection found that while the outer packaging looked like a Chinese oolong tea product, about 1 kilogram of a white crystalline substance was sealed inside.
The Coast Guard immediately collected the substance at the scene and requested a detailed analysis from the National Forensic Service. The packaging is reportedly undergoing a detailed examination by the East Sea Regional Coast Guard's forensic team to check for fingerprints and other traces.
There is speculation that the suspected drugs discovered this time may have been smuggled goods discarded or damaged during maritime transport and carried by currents. The Coast Guard searched nearby shores and underwater areas, but no additional suspicious substances were found.
The Coast Guard plans to expand the investigation depending on the National Forensic Service's detailed analysis results.
The Coast Guard said it is strengthening patrols and surveillance across all waters off the east coast to block maritime smuggling routes and ensure public safety, and urged that if white powder or block-shaped substances in oolong tea-style packaging are found on beaches or around fishing ports, people should never open them or touch them with their hands and should report them to the Coast Guard immediately.