Jeju Coast Guard, Special Crackdown on Narcotics Crimes Including Opium Poppy Cultivation

Jeju Regional Coast Guard Headquarters

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Hwang Jeongpil] Jeju Regional Maritime Police Agency (Chief Oh Sang-kwon) announced that it will conduct a special crackdown on drug-related crimes from the 5th to July 31, coinciding with the blooming period of poppies and the hemp harvest season.

According to the Jeju Maritime Police Agency, although they conduct intensive crackdowns every year on the illegal cultivation of poppies and hemp, illegal activities have not ceased. Therefore, through this special crackdown, they plan to focus enforcement mainly in island areas.

To this end, they will strengthen preventive activities such as patrolling high-risk areas and use unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct enforcement activities in places difficult for vehicles or people to access.

Over the past five years, the Jeju Maritime Police have apprehended three individuals in three cases related to illegal poppy cultivation and seized a total of 105 poppy plants. The seized poppies are sent to the National Forensic Service for analysis, and if narcotic components are confirmed, they are referred to the responsible public health center for disposal.

A Jeju Maritime Police Agency official stated, "We will strongly crack down to create a marine environment safe from drugs," and urged, "If you suspect drug-related crimes such as illegal poppy cultivation, please report to the nearby maritime police station."

Additionally, the official said, "Sometimes ornamental poppies (Gaeyang-gwibi) are mistakenly reported as poppies for enforcement." They explained, "Enforcement poppies have rounder and larger fruits compared to ornamental poppies, and their stems are straight and long without fine hairs. If it is difficult to distinguish, please contact the Jeju Maritime Police."

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