Gang Caught Illegally Distributing Russian Antiviral Drug as 'COVID-19 Treatment'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A group involved in illegally importing the Russian antiviral drug 'Triaclavirin' into South Korea and distributing it as a miracle cure for COVID-19 has been caught by the police.

The International Crime Investigation Unit of the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 11th that they arrested a man in his 30s, Mr. A, on charges of violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and booked two accomplices without detention.

According to the police, since February of this year, during the COVID-19 outbreak phase, the suspects purchased Triaclavirin at a low price locally in Russia, imported small quantities into South Korea using the international postal express service (EMS), and sold it online.

Triaclavirin is an antiviral drug certified by Russian health authorities for its efficacy in inhibiting viral replication and approved for influenza treatment. Clinical trials for COVID-19 patients are also underway in China. However, in South Korea, it is an illegal drug without official import registration or sales approval, and its effectiveness for COVID-19 treatment has not yet been verified.

Police investigations revealed that Mr. A had been illegally selling adult drugs such as Viagra worth approximately 2.3 billion KRW online since 2018. When COVID-19 spread, he illegally imported Triaclavirin and promoted it as a 'COVID-19 treatment' while selling it. The police explained that the illicit profits Mr. A earned from this illegal distribution amount to about 1.3 billion KRW based on current findings.

The police are tracking the local transport agents and website operators, believing that Mr. A imported Triaclavirin from Russia through a Chinese mastermind.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.