Mass Arrests of Foreigners Holding Drug-Induced Hallucination Parties at Entertainment Venues

Foreign nationals involved in distributing and using drugs at entertainment venues such as clubs and karaoke rooms were arrested in large numbers.

On the 8th, the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency announced that they had apprehended 42 foreigners, including five karaoke business owners, 28 drug dealers, and nine users, on charges of distributing and using narcotics (violations of the Narcotics Control Act) at entertainment establishments in Busan, Daegu, and the Gyeongnam area.

The police conducted raids twice, in May and October, targeting two establishments including foreigner-only karaoke rooms in Busan and Gyeongnam, capturing those who used new types of drugs such as ecstasy and ketamine, as well as the business owners who aided them.

According to the police, at the time of the arrests, the suspects were holding a hallucinogenic party, drinking alcohol and inhaling drugs. When the police raided the scene, the suspects locked the doors and hid drugs in the ceiling or in the boiler room.

Drugs discovered during a joint crackdown.
[Image source=Busan Police Agency]

The 28 drug distributors and dealers are accused of recruiting participants for drug parties via SNS and providing and selling alcohol and narcotics at foreigner-only clubs, karaoke rooms, and other entertainment venues.

The distributors purchased narcotics such as MDMA and ketamine online, and it is known that three of them conspired with drug suppliers in Vietnam to receive narcotics via international express delivery.

Five business owners operating foreigner-only entertainment venues were booked on charges of providing the premises and aiding crimes, despite knowing that customers were using drugs inside their establishments.

Two illegal foreign residents caught during the joint crackdown were handed over to the Ministry of Justice and were all deported.

The police plan to swiftly identify and arrest additional foreign buyers by analyzing evidence and mobile phones secured during the joint investigation to trace drug smuggling and sales routes. Investigations into smugglers will also continue.

A police official stated, “We will continue to carry out strong crackdowns targeting entertainment venues such as clubs and karaoke rooms frequently used by foreigners to protect the daily lives of our citizens from drugs.”

He added, “Drug crimes not only devastate an individual’s body and mind but also threaten precious families and social safety, making them serious crimes that must never be attempted. If you discover any drug-related crimes, please actively report them to the police.”

The police are searching for drugs hidden in the ceiling.
[Photo by Busan Police Agency]

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