"Yaba, the 'Crazy Drug' Disguised as Regular Food, Distributed Nationwide"

The new synthetic drug "Yaba," which means "crazy medicine" in Thai, is being distributed nationwide across the country after crossing the border. It is known to have been smuggled through domestic suppliers disguised as health functional foods or general food products.

Police officers discovering hidden drugs during a search and seizure operation.
[Photo by Incheon Police Agency]

The Metropolitan Investigation Unit of Incheon Police Agency announced the results of an investigation into Yaba smuggling suspects on the 7th. According to the investigation, the Thai mastermind imported 1 billion KRW worth of 1,970 Yaba pills disguised as capsule-type health functional foods via international mail. Domestic sellers distributed Yaba to areas such as Seosan in Chungnam, Hwaseong in Gyeonggi, Jeongeup in Jeonbuk, and Daegu using so-called "throwing" methods.

In this case, 48 people, including the Thai mastermind and domestic sellers, were arrested, along with 33 users.

The Drug Crime Investigation Unit of Jeonnam Police Agency also recently dismantled a Thai Yaba distribution organization. A Thai individual identified as a supplier in the Honam region, Mr. A, purchased Yaba wholesale from drug dealers in his home country and distributed it domestically.

Yaba passed through seven intermediate sellers before reaching Thai users residing in the Jeonnam and Jeonbuk regions. The police seized 1,198 Yaba pills from these individuals.

Most Yaba users were Thai workers employed in rural farming and fishing villages or factories, purchasing the drug at 30,000 to 50,000 KRW per pill. Those who bought Yaba from the drug distribution organization dismantled by Incheon Police Agency were mostly Thai workers engaged in agriculture and livestock farming or day laborers.

The Yaba users arrested by Jeonnam Police Agency were also Thai workers employed in rural farming and fishing villages or factories. In Gangwon Province, from April to September last year, the police conducted a large-scale crackdown and arrested 65 people involved in distributing Yaba and other drugs. Many of these individuals consumed alcohol and used drugs in rural greenhouses or lodgings.

There have also been cases where Yaba smuggling was detected and heavy sentences were handed down by the courts. Last July, a Thai individual, Mr. A, was caught secretly importing 23,940 Yaba pills worth 1.197 billion KRW disguised as general food products via international mail.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court Jeonju Branch (Chief Judge Baek Gang-jin) upheld the 10-year prison sentence handed down in the first trial, citing the need for strict punishment of crimes involving the import of psychotropic substances.

Mr. A, who is currently serving a 10-year sentence, listed Buan County in Jeonbuk as the Yaba receiving location. Immediately after receiving the Yaba, he secretly entered a nearby farm and inhaled the drug, repeating this twice. Ultimately, he was punished not only for distributing Yaba but also for using it.

Yaba has become widespread in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, and it appears that demand has arisen among foreign workers entering Korean rural areas.

A police official stated, "We plan to cooperate with the National Intelligence Service and Interpol to track international mail senders, arrest Thai key masterminds, strengthen intelligence gathering and crackdowns on foreign drug offenders, and prevent the spread of drug distribution."

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Customs Service, there were a total of 771 drug smuggling cases detected last year. Looking at the types of drugs seized, the smuggling volume of synthetic marijuana (500%) and Yaba (1337%), which are popular among foreign workers, surged sharply compared to the previous year.

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