Prosecutors Demand Maximum Death Penalty for Drug Suppliers Targeting Minors

National Drug Inspectors and Investigators Workshop... 'Strengthening Case Handling Standards'

The prosecution has decided to seek the maximum legal penalty, including the death penalty, for drug suppliers who target minors for profit.

On the 23rd, the Drug and Organized Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Park Jae-eok) held a "National Drug Investigation Workshop" at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, attended by 83 people including drug investigators and dedicated drug prosecutors from 21 prosecution offices nationwide. In commemoration of the 37th International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, drug investigators and dedicated prosecutors nationwide shared the latest information and investigative techniques related to drug investigations and pledged to take strict measures against drug crimes such as online drug distribution.

The workshop focused on topics including expert lectures on investigative techniques for tracking the dark web and virtual assets used in online drug distribution, sharing joint and cooperative investigation techniques and cases with related agencies, and discussions on strengthening punishments through the reorganization of drug crime case handling standards.

The prosecution cited the increase in internet drug distribution and illegal distribution of medical narcotics as the reasons behind the 43% rise in drug offenders in their teens and twenties compared to the same period last year, and the fact that offenders in their teens to thirties account for 64% of all drug offenders as of April this year.

The prosecution explained that the anonymity guaranteed by internet drug distribution and the use of automatic IP laundering make it difficult to trace the supply chain even when users are apprehended, and that medical narcotics are rapidly spreading through online distribution networks.

Accordingly, the prosecution determined that it is necessary to strengthen investigative capabilities for internet drug distribution using the dark web and cryptocurrencies. Currently, the prosecution operates dedicated dark web investigation teams at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office and the Incheon and Busan District Prosecutors' Offices, focusing on drug distribution via the dark web, SNS, and cryptocurrencies.

At this workshop, the prosecution invited external experts to share investigative techniques for drug offenders using the dark web, methods for using virtual asset tracking programs, and tracking techniques, and plans to disseminate this knowledge to prosecution offices nationwide.

Additionally, the prosecution will actively investigate internet drug advertisements on platforms such as SNS by utilizing punishment regulations for the act of advertising drug sales itself. It is stipulated that advertising related to drug sales can be punished by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Furthermore, the prosecution plans to strengthen the drug crime case handling standards to impose higher sentences on drug offenders to raise awareness. They intend to strictly punish not only suppliers but also habitual users to suppress drug demand.

To strengthen case handling standards, the prosecution will apply a zero-tolerance policy to supply offenders involved in drug smuggling, manufacturing, and trafficking, conducting investigations with detention from the first offense. They will increase sentencing recommendations if offenders conceal the source of narcotics, provide false statements, or have prior convictions of the same kind.

Moreover, for drug suppliers targeting minors for profit, the prosecution will seek the maximum statutory penalty, including the death penalty, and will actively appeal if the sentence is lenient. Cases involving habitual or repeated drug use where the offender denies the charges, or cases where the offender remains silent or destroys evidence regarding the distribution route of the drugs used, will be actively investigated with detention.

However, if the offender confesses to the charges and the source of the narcotics, shows a sincere intention to quit, and meets all conditions of being a first-time offender or a minor, the prosecution plans to grant conditional suspension of prosecution to provide opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation.

The prosecution will impose aggravated punishment for crimes committed in specially protected locations such as near schools, for secretly administering drugs to others against their will, or for using narcotics as a means to commit other crimes.

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