Elderly People Growing Poppies in Their Vegetable Gardens Caught One After Another

There is a growing need for caution as elderly individuals growing opium poppies for narcotic use in their gardens have been repeatedly caught.

On the 10th, the Gwangju Western Police Station announced that they have booked and are investigating a woman in her 70s, identified as Ms. A, on charges of cultivating opium poppies for narcotic use (violation of the Narcotics Control Act).

Ms. A is suspected of growing five opium poppy plants in a garden located in Seochang-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

During the police investigation, Ms. A claimed, "The poppy seeds flew here naturally, and the plants grew on their own."

The Gwangju Southern Police Station has also booked and is investigating six people, including a woman in her 60s, Ms. B, on the same charges. It has been confirmed that they grew between one and up to 22 opium poppy plants at their residences in the Baegun-dong area of Nam-gu.

Some of them partially admitted, "We intended to use them as digestive aids and pain relievers," but also stated that "the seeds flew here naturally."

Previously, in Gwangsan-gu, a man in his 60s and Mr. C, as well as a woman in her 80s, Ms. D, were caught growing 142 and 117 opium poppy plants respectively at their residences and were booked without detention.

The police confiscated the opium poppies they were cultivating and are investigating the exact circumstances. They also urged, "Since even a single opium poppy or hemp plant used as raw materials for narcotics can lead to detection, caution is necessary."

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