Seoul Police Arrest 440 People One Month After Issuing Gangnam Drug Alert

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on the 22nd that they arrested 440 drug offenders and detained 63 of them over a one-month period starting July 14. The police conducted special crackdowns mainly around clubs and entertainment establishments following Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun's issuance of a 'drug alert' for the Gangnam area.

The number of arrests increased by 34.6% compared to the same period last year (327 people). Although the number of detainees decreased by 18, the police explained that this was due to an increase in first-time offenders, simple users, and marijuana offenders. A total of 73 supply offenders were arrested, accounting for 16.6% of all arrests, which is a 10.4% increase compared to the first half of the year during intensive drug crackdowns.

By type, psychotropic drug offenders were the most numerous at 302 (68.6%), followed by marijuana offenders (111) and narcotics offenders (27). By category, users accounted for 353 people, or 80.2% of the total, followed by sellers (64) and manufacturers/smugglers (9). Among the 34 drug offenders arrested at clubs and similar venues, most committed crimes in party rooms (16), clubs (15), entertainment bars (2), and karaoke rooms (1).

Additionally, the police arrested 97 internet drug offenders, detaining 6, and also arrested 41 foreign drug offenders. A total of 110 illegal drug distribution advertisements posted on the dark web and SNS were reported to the Korea Communications Standards Commission for deletion and blocking. The police also seized approximately 3.1 kg of methamphetamine worth 10.4 billion KRW, about 1.4 kg of marijuana worth 140 million KRW, 599 ecstasy pills worth 60 million KRW, 905.4 g of ketamine, 510 yaba pills, and criminal proceeds worth 26 million KRW.

The number of drug-related reports over the past month also increased by 35.2% compared to last year (247 cases), totaling 334 cases. In particular, six police stations in areas dense with clubs and entertainment establishments, including Gangnam, Yongsan, and Mapo, saw a 66.8% increase.

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