Police Extend 'War on Drugs' Until Year-End... Eradicating Distribution and Use

Checking Possession During Traffic Accident Investigations

Seodaemun-gu Police Agency, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency announced on the 29th that the second half 'Intensive Crackdown on Narcotics Offenders,' originally scheduled until October, will be extended and operated until December. The purpose is to eradicate narcotics crimes, including distribution and use around entertainment establishments, through high-intensity crackdowns.

The police plan to concentrate the capabilities of related functions such as criminal investigation, public order, and cyber units from each metropolitan police agency and police station during the intensive crackdown. Based on an analysis of narcotics crime trends, the main targets for the crackdown will be selected as follows: narcotics distribution and use around clubs and entertainment establishments; distribution using the internet (dark web) and virtual assets; supply activities such as manufacturing, smuggling, and distribution; and distribution activities by foreign nationals residing in Korea.

The police will especially expand investigations to determine whether there is organized distribution or complicity by business owners or related personnel when drug use by customers inside clubs and entertainment establishments is confirmed. This is a blueprint to eradicate narcotics crimes around entertainment districts. Additionally, the police will respond by utilizing tracking programs for narcotics sales and purchases increasingly conducted via the dark web, SNS, and other platforms.

Strict measures will also be taken against crimes involving driving under the influence of drugs. If an accident occurs due to abnormal driving despite not being under the influence of alcohol or driving without a license, the police will search the driver's belongings and vehicle on-site and conduct narcotics tests to confirm drug-impaired driving. Under the current Road Traffic Act, driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs to the extent that safe driving is impaired is punishable by up to three years imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million KRW. Furthermore, if personal injury or death occurs, charges under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (dangerous driving causing death or injury) apply, with penalties up to life imprisonment (in case of death) or fines up to 30 million KRW (in case of injury).

Earlier, Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun promised strong crackdowns and investigations targeting entertainment districts nationwide, starting with the Gangnam area, shortly after his appointment. Since the start of the second half 'Intensive Crackdown on Narcotics Offenders' period this month, a total of 932 narcotics offenders have been arrested as of the 21st. Among them, 35 suspects were arrested for distributing and using narcotics around clubs and entertainment establishments. Additionally, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency arrested 26 suspects, including those who distributed smuggled methamphetamine via the dark web, detaining four of them. The seized amount of methamphetamine reached 15.3 kg.

A police official stated, "Addiction to narcotics not only devastates an individual's mind and body to an irrecoverable extent but also threatens the safety of families and society, making it a serious crime," urging, "One must never fall into the temptation of drugs even for a moment." Under current law, those who export, import, manufacture, trade, or mediate narcotics for profit or habitually, or engage in such activities as a business, face penalties up to the death penalty. Methamphetamine use can result in imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 100 million KRW, and marijuana smoking can lead to imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million KRW.

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