Opium Poppies for Drugs Found in Gangnam Residential Area?..."Component Analysis Underway"

Opium poppies suspected to be used for drug purposes were found in a multi-family house in Gangnam, Seoul, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

On the 23rd, the Suseo Police Station in Seoul seized 80 opium poppy plants from an 80-year-old woman, Ms. A, who was growing them at her home in Dogok-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, following a neighbor's report the previous day stating, "It seems like opium poppies are being cultivated."

How to distinguish between opium poppies, which are raw materials for drugs, and ornamental poppies. Photo by National Police Agency

The police suspected the plants to be drug-use opium poppies based on their appearance. They requested an analysis from the National Forensic Service (NFS) to confirm the exact components.

Drug-use opium poppy stems are smooth and hairless, with round and large fruits. In contrast, ornamental opium poppy stems generally have short hairs all over, and their fruits are small and acorn-shaped.

The NFS analysis takes about a month. Based on the results of the component analysis, the police will consider whether to book Ms. A on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act.

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