Drugs 'Dropped' in Neighborhood Villa Mailboxes... Most Buyers Are Chinese Nationals

Use of Residential Facilities Such as Mailboxes, Communication Terminal Boxes, and Railings
Targeting Existing Multi-Family Houses Without Locks and CCTV

A man in his 30s who distributed drugs in multi-family housing using the so-called 'throw-and-go method,' where drugs are hidden in specific locations for buyers to find, was arrested by the police.

On the 10th, the Suwon Western Police Station in Gyeonggi Province arrested A (in his 30s), the distributor, on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, according to Yonhap News. Also arrested were A's partner B (in his 30s), who used the drugs, and 27 others who purchased and used drugs from A.

Drug suppliers and buyers entering and exiting multi-family housing in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

To avoid attracting attention, A used several old-style multi-family houses without CCTV or door locks as crime scenes.

According to footage released by the police, they opened the unlocked building entrance doors, entered, looked around, opened the communication terminal boxes next to mailboxes, and hid small packets inside.

Drug buyers who were contacted entered the buildings and stayed for a while, searching mailboxes, metal railings, and communication terminal boxes to find the hidden drugs. Some buyers who had previously traded drugs even entered to steal any hidden drugs by rifling through mailboxes.

Their activities were uncovered after a resident suspicious of repeated outsiders entering and rummaging through the communication terminal boxes reported them.

The police also seized 284.5 grams of methamphetamine worth approximately 300 million KRW from them.

A is suspected of receiving 400 grams of methamphetamine five times from a local supplier through a Chinese chat app over about two months starting in February, repackaging it, and distributing some domestically.

After receiving citizen tips, the police formed a dedicated team of 27 detectives and, after two months of investigation, arrested A at his residence in Siheung City on the 14th of last month.

Subsequently, buyers located nationwide in Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongnam were arrested one after another.

Among the arrested buyers, 17 were Chinese nationals or Chinese-Koreans, including one illegal immigrant. There was also a case of an active-duty soldier purchasing drugs while on leave.

A police official said, "Judging that even ordinary citizens' living spaces could be exposed to the dangers of drugs, we formed a dedicated team for rapid arrests and conducted intensive investigations," adding, "If suspicious items are seen in mailboxes or stairways in residential areas, please report immediately." The police also announced that they will provide reward money to those who contribute to the arrest of drug offenders.

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