Mokpo Coast Guard Conducts Comprehensive Land and Sea Crackdown on Drug-Related Crimes

From July 4 to July 31, a joint task force will be formed to crack down on poppy and hemp cultivation.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] Mokpo Maritime Police Station announced on the 11th that it will conduct a special crackdown on narcotics cultivation, distribution, and use offenders from the 4th of this month until July 31, ahead of the opium poppy blooming season and hemp harvesting season.

During the crackdown period, a joint task force will be formed with related agencies to strengthen preventive activities such as patrolling islands and high-risk areas, focusing on intensive searches of greenhouses, gardens, and flower beds in areas suspected of illegal cultivation.

In addition, strong crackdowns will be carried out on narcotics smuggled into the country via sea routes such as international passenger ships and foreign vessels.

For locations difficult to access by vehicles or people, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) will be utilized to conduct three-dimensional enforcement activities both at sea and on land.

The crackdown targets include illegal cultivation and trafficking of opium poppy and hemp used as raw materials for narcotics production, illegal smuggling of narcotics into the country by sea, and illegal supply, distribution, and use of narcotics.

Those caught cultivating, purchasing, or using opium poppy and hemp without permission will be subject to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won under the Narcotics Control Act.

Kim Sangjin, head of the Mokpo Maritime Police Investigation Division, said, “We will strongly crack down to create a marine environment safe from drugs,” and urged, “If you suspect narcotics crimes such as illegal opium poppy cultivation, please report immediately to the nearby maritime police station.”

Meanwhile, Mokpo Maritime Police have uncovered a total of 35 narcotics-related crimes in the jurisdiction over the past three years and seized a total of 1,843 opium poppy plants (808 in 2019, 735 in 2020, and 300 in 2021).

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