Daegum: "18,000 Drug Offenders, Record High... New-Type Drug Seizures Up 97%"

Seoul Seocho-dong Supreme Prosecutors' Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The number of drug offenders reached an all-time high last year, and new types of drugs also surged.

On the 9th, the Anti-Corruption and Violent Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Shin Seongsik) announced that it had published the "2020 Drug Crime White Paper" on the 7th, which records domestic and international drug crime trends.

According to the white paper, the number of drug offenders last year was 18,050, a 12.5% increase from 16,044 in 2019, marking a record high. Supply offenders (cultivation, smuggling, and trafficking offenders) increased by 13.4% during the same period to 4,793. Smuggling offenders, the source of supply, have steadily increased since 2016, reaching 837 last year, a 118.5% surge in four years.

The amount of new types of drugs seized was 162.8 kg, a 96.9% increase compared to 82.7 kg in 2019. In particular, seizures of yaba (22.8 kg) and ecstasy (11.9 kg) continued to rise. Cannabis products also recorded 49.9 kg, a 130.0% explosion compared to the previous year. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office analyzed that the legalization of cannabis in some states in the United States and Canada, as well as several European countries, has led to an increase in the smuggling of cannabis-related products.

Cases of selling cannabis directly cultivated through the dark web and Telegram have also increased. The method involves purchasing cannabis seeds and equipment at low prices, setting up specialized cultivation facilities in apartments and warehouses, and selling the grown cannabis at high prices. For the first time, drug offenders attempting to cultivate and sell large quantities of hallucinogenic mushrooms, which require highly skilled cultivation techniques using sterilizers, microscopes, and LED lighting, were also caught.

The number of foreign drug offenders also reached a record high of 1,958. This increase is attributed to foreign residents in Korea who have difficulty entering and exiting the country due to the recent COVID-19 situation, smuggling large quantities of drugs through international mail and express parcels using non-face-to-face methods.

The number of drug offenders aged 19 and under also increased by 31% from the previous year, with 313 caught, continuing the upward trend. Most youths use smartphones, and exposure to drug sales advertisements through various social networking service (SNS) apps and portal site searches has increased curiosity, leading to more frequent drug purchases.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office plans to actively block the smuggling and distribution of drugs by foreign offenders by conducting joint investigations with the countries of drug shipment and requesting strengthened cargo inspections for shipments to Korea. Additionally, it will strengthen the recovery of criminal proceeds and online monitoring, and respond to drug crimes through pre- and post-management for treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention, as well as educational and promotional activities.

Liquid Marijuana Cartridge Manufacturing Facility / Photo by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, captured from video

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