A ring that brought in more than 5,000 tablets of a new synthetic drug through international mail has been arrested.
The Government Joint Investigation Headquarters on Narcotics Crimes (headquarters) said on the 5th that it filed a non-custodial indictment against A, 21, suspected of smuggling the psychotropic drug "2C-B" by mail, and indicted B, 30, the pickup operative, under detention. 2C-B is a new synthetic drug that is mainly abused in clubs because of its strong hallucinogenic effects.
This case is also the first drug smuggling incident detected at a mail sorting center since the implementation of the "second line of defense for drug inspections" system. The second line of defense for drug inspections was introduced to block smuggled drugs that were not caught at airports and seaports at mail sorting centers and other facilities. Accordingly, customs inspection areas were set up at five major mail sorting centers and metropolitan mail logistics centers nationwide.
The first place 2C-B was found was also the Anyang mail sorting center. The Korea Customs Service confirmed on Apr. 21 that a total of 5,137 tablets of 2C-B were hidden in international mail from the Netherlands and immediately notified the headquarters.
The next day, the headquarters conducted a "controlled delivery," sending the seized drugs in the usual way to apprehend those involved, and through IP tracing and other methods, identified A, the smuggling operative, on the 23rd of the same month. It turned out A had already been detained in Daegu on a separate drug handling case.
After identifying A, investigators conducted a four-week stakeout and succeeded in arresting B, the pickup operative, on the 19th of last month. An official at the headquarters said, "A large quantity of drugs could have been distributed domestically," adding, "This case confirmed the effectiveness of the second line of defense for drug inspections system."
The headquarters also confirmed through drug smuggling databases that the two additionally smuggled drugs. According to the headquarters, A is suspected of hiding 2C-B, ketamine and methamphetamine in international mail from the Netherlands and Canada on three occasions in April this year. B is suspected of collecting ketamine and liquid marijuana under the direction of an overseas drug supplier.
An official at the headquarters said, "An investigation into related accomplices, including overseas drug suppliers, is underway," and noted, "We will continue to respond sternly to drug smuggling crimes in cooperation with related agencies, including the Korea Customs Service."