Smuggling Ring Caught Selling Chinese Abortion Pills Disguised as American-Made Products

Some Chinese-made abortion pills seized by Incheon Main Customs, packaging materials of U.S.-made abortion pills used for repackaging, and clothing used for concealment during smuggling. Provided by Korea Customs Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A smuggling organization that secretly brought abortion pills into the country from overseas and changed the origin by repackaging them has been caught by customs authorities. It is investigated that they earned 2.2 billion KRW in profits through this method.

On the 14th, Incheon Main Customs announced that six people, including Mr. A, were booked on charges of violating the Customs Act, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, and the Act on the Regulation of Concealment of Criminal Proceeds, and were sent to the prosecution.

According to customs, Mr. A and others divided roles as abortion pill suppliers, domestic customs clearance agents, and dispatch agents, smuggling in about 57,000 Chinese-made abortion pills (market value 2.3 billion KRW) and distributing them in the market disguised as American-made products.

The seized drugs are classified as illegal pharmaceuticals that are banned from use and formal import in Korea, such as Mibisadongpyeon and Miseokjeonryeolsunpyeon, which are distributed in China.

In fact, the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology warns that these drugs can cause ectopic pregnancy, combined pregnancy, and threaten the life of the mother.

They also explain that side effects such as incomplete miscarriage, uterine bleeding and infection, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fever, and abdominal pain may occur.

However, Mr. A and others smuggled Chinese-made abortion pills purchased locally in China into Korea by hiding them in clothing pockets and disguising them as small personal clothing items through express cargo.

After smuggling, they repackaged the pills to deceive buyers into thinking they were American-made abortion pills legally distributed in the U.S., and sold them through individual consultations using KakaoTalk open chat.

During consultations, Mr. A and others lured buyers with phrases like “Proceed with abortion safely and easily with medication without surgery” and conducted consultations as if they were pharmacists with professional training, reassuring buyers.

In particular, customs explained that they purchased the drugs in China at less than 60,000 KRW per set of 9 pills but sold them to buyers at about 360,000 KRW per set of 9 pills, earning approximately 2.28 billion KRW in criminal proceeds.

Meanwhile, Incheon Main Customs is currently tracking the smuggling and sales ringleader and other accomplices in China who are on the run through international joint investigations.

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