19 People Arrested in Bulk for Drug Deals Using Cryptocurrency via Telegram

Jeonnam Police arrested members of a drug distribution and sales organization responsible for drugs for 100,000 people.
Data showing the relationships between drug sales organization members and buyers. Photo by Jeonnam Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Recently, as narcotics have been distributed through SNS, making them easily accessible to young people, 19 members of a group who traded drugs for cryptocurrency via Telegram were arrested in a large-scale operation, and drugs capable of simultaneous use by 100,000 people were seized.

The Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 10th that they arrested and transferred 19 individuals, including 5 members of a drug sales organization and 14 buyers, on charges of operating a drug sales organization through Telegram and selling drugs in exchange for virtual assets (cryptocurrency) (violations of the Narcotics Control Act, etc.).

Among the 19, two domestic masterminds, managers, couriers, buyers, and users?totaling 5 members of the drug sales organization?were sent to prosecution under detention.

They are accused of opening a drug sales channel on Telegram since September 2020 and selling drugs to buyers who accessed the channel after seeing internet advertisements, receiving cryptocurrency as payment.

The overseas mastermind, identified as Mr. A, who has not yet been apprehended, recruited organization members to perform roles such as mastermind, manager/storage, courier, and promoter through job advertisements for "high-paying part-time jobs."

Five domestic masterminds, under Mr. A’s instructions, received drugs smuggled via international mail and sold them to buyers in their 20s and 30s through social network services (SNS) like Telegram, accepting cryptocurrency payments to avoid tracking.

It was revealed that they operated the organization in a cell-like structure, conducting transactions in a non-face-to-face manner by communicating only through SNS even among sales agents. The Jeonnam police believe the overseas mastermind Mr. A resides in the Philippines and are continuing their pursuit.

During this crackdown, 2.83 kg of Philopon, 1.1 kg of a Philopon-MDMA mixture, 505 g of Ketamine, and 1,779 Ecstasy pills?enough for simultaneous use by 100,000 people?worth approximately 10.1 billion KRW were seized.

A Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency official stated, “We maintain a constant surveillance system in cooperation with customs and others to prevent the distribution of smuggled narcotics,” adding, “As narcotics are recently being distributed through SNS and young people are easily exposed, we will strongly crack down on such activities.”

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