Seoul Police to Conduct Special Crackdown on Narcotics in Gangnam Clubs and Entertainment Venues Until October

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 11th that it will conduct intensive crackdowns on narcotics in the Gangnam entertainment district until October. This follows the directive from newly appointed National Police Chief Yoon Hee-geun, who ordered a narcotics alert in the Gangnam area as a 'national perceptible strategic task' immediately after taking office.

According to the police, this crackdown is being carried out in parallel with the ongoing intensive narcotics offender crackdown, which started on the 1st of this month, by forming a 'Task Force (TF) for Responding to Narcotics Crimes in Clubs, etc.' led by the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's investigation division. All functions including criminal investigation, narcotics investigation unit, public order, 112 comprehensive situation room, intelligence, foreign affairs and security investigation support, cyber, and public relations participate, handling everything from intelligence gathering and dark web tracking to responding to reports, inspections, and crackdowns. Separately from the TF team, two narcotics crime investigation teams and one team from each of the six police stations located in club and entertainment district clusters have been designated as 'Club and Narcotics Crackdown Task Teams' and are being intensively deployed for the crackdown.

In the crackdown, if drug use is confirmed inside clubs or entertainment establishments, the investigation will expand to include whether companions, employees, and establishment officials have tolerated or abetted illegal activities, and the police plan to actively prosecute under the Narcotics Control Act for the charge of 'providing a place.' Additionally, when a 112 report is made, the local police and the violent crime unit will also be dispatched to the scene to verify criminal circumstances such as drug use. Furthermore, joint inspections and crackdowns will be conducted in cooperation with related organizations such as local governments and fire departments.

On the previous day, Chief Yoon ordered a special crackdown on entertainment establishments in the Gangnam area as the second national perceptible strategic task. This measure was taken following a recent incident where customers and employees who drank alcohol containing drugs at Gangnam entertainment establishments died, highlighting drug use in clubs and entertainment venues as a social issue. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will hold a TF meeting once a month chaired by the head of the investigation division, and Chief Yoon will receive an interim report after one month of crackdowns. A Seoul police official stated, "We will devote all the capabilities of the Seoul police to eradicate narcotics crimes."

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