Drug Seizures Increase by 55%... Government Plans to Hike Sentences and Strengthen Addiction Treatment

Drug Seizures Increase by 55% Year-on-Year
'Pan-Government Narcotics Countermeasures Council' Strengthens Control Tower Role
Harsher Sentences and Enhanced Treatment Rehabilitation System

From November last year to February this year, the amount of drugs seized increased by 55% compared to the same period the previous year. The number of drug-related offenders caught (5,809 people) also rose by 24%. In response, the government plans to strengthen the control tower function of the ‘Intergovernmental Narcotics Countermeasures Council’ chaired by Visit Kyoo, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, and to fully mobilize efforts against drug crimes.

On the 18th, the government discussed the ‘Comprehensive Measures for Narcotics Control: Achievements and Future Plans’ at the Cabinet meeting. The government intends to enhance intergovernmental responses by categorizing efforts into drug inflow monitoring, distribution crackdowns, judicial processing, treatment and rehabilitation, and education and publicity. According to the government, during the same period, drug addiction rehabilitation education increased by 150% to 1,071 people. Addiction treatment reached 421 people last year, a 50% increase compared to the previous year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Following recent drug-related incidents such as the drug beverage case in the Gangnam academy district and drug use cases involving famous celebrities, which pose threats even to daily life, the government announced it will concentrate all intergovernmental capabilities to completely eradicate drugs. Accordingly, all elementary, middle, high, and special schools are required to conduct at least 10 hours annually of drug and substance abuse prevention education.

First, from the perspective of monitoring inflow, the government plans to increase surveillance personnel by forming an international mail drug control task force to block smuggling at the borders. They will also establish a special cargo screening system and introduce advanced drug detection equipment to fundamentally block drugs from being smuggled across borders.

A special narcotics crime investigation headquarters will be formed with 840 personnel from the prosecution, police, and customs agencies to consolidate intergovernmental investigative capabilities. This is to ensure that dedicated narcotics investigation personnel from each agency jointly respond to nationwide drug crimes from the investigation initiation stage through trial procedures. In addition, to strengthen punishments for habitual users and large-scale smugglers, the government plans to push for tougher sentencing guidelines for narcotics crimes at the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission.

Efforts will also be focused on treatment and rehabilitation. Operating expenses and treatment cost support rates will be increased so that 24 designated treatment protection hospitals can perform drug addiction treatment functions. A system will be established to link treatment and rehabilitation so that medical staff can continuously manage addicts after treatment protection ends.

The number of addiction rehabilitation centers will be expanded from 2 to 3, and financial support will be promoted for private addiction rehabilitation facilities (DARC, 4 nationwide). Customized rehabilitation programs will be developed to apply to various situations considering the condition of drug addicts (age, drugs used, family environment, etc.).

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated, “Drug addiction is both a disease and a crime that harms me, my family, and our society. Therefore, drug crimes must be punished decisively. I urge strong investigation and crackdowns, and to do our utmost in treatment and rehabilitation so that drug addicts can return to society as soon as possible.” He added, “The government will concentrate all intergovernmental capabilities to ensure victory in the war against drugs.”

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