"Illegal Medicines Containing Narcotics Increased 43-Fold in the Last 5 Years"

The domestic importation of illegal pharmaceuticals containing narcotic substances is on the rise. The government plans to strengthen crackdowns on illegal pharmaceuticals while simultaneously conducting promotional activities to raise awareness about the harms of illegal pharmaceuticals, aiming to prevent innocent offenders caused by negligence.

According to the Korea Customs Service on the 18th, narcotics seized at customs increased from 594 cases (148.429 kg) in 2020 to 800 cases (787.199 kg) last year. The number of cases increased by 1.3 times, and the weight increased by 5.3 times.

In particular, during the same period, illegal pharmaceutical imports rose from 19 cases in 2020 to 252 cases last year, a 13-fold increase, and the weight increased from 0.885 kg to 37.688 kg, a 43-fold increase. Illegal pharmaceutical imports continue to increase this year as well. From January to February this year, 65 cases weighing 11.854 kg were seized, both the number of cases and weight increasing compared to 17 cases weighing 2.305 kg during the same period last year.

The Korea Customs Service believes that the increase in illegal pharmaceutical imports is due to more cases where people purchase illegal pharmaceuticals overseas without recognizing them as narcotics, citing pain relief (hallucinogenic) effects, or drug addicts seeking illegal pharmaceuticals as ‘substitute drugs’ that are relatively easy to obtain.

The problem lies in the fact that when citizens who do not properly understand the narcotic components or risks consume illegal pharmaceuticals, they may become addicted to the narcotic substances, leading to repurchasing the same products or seeking more addictive narcotics.

In fact, illegal pharmaceuticals containing four substances?codeine and dextromethorphan found in cold medicine, and alprazolam and zolpidem found in insomnia treatments?accounted for 238 cases last year, representing 82% of the annual seizures (292 cases). It is difficult to exclude the possibility that people consumed illegal pharmaceuticals without realizing they contained narcotics.

Illegal cold medicines seized at customs were mainly imported via express and postal services by residents of Korean, Vietnamese, and Sri Lankan nationalities. Most illegal sleeping pills were carried in by travelers of Korean and Chinese nationalities from countries such as the United States, China, and Japan.

As of last year, the nationality breakdown of illegal pharmaceutical importers was highest in the order of Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, China, and Thailand. The main import routes were travelers and postal/express cargo for domestic nationals, and postal/express cargo for foreigners.

To block illegal pharmaceutical imports, the Korea Customs Service plans to strengthen information analysis and customs inspections, while expanding promotional activities to prevent both domestic and foreign nationals from purchasing and consuming illegal pharmaceuticals out of negligence by informing them about import routes and prevention measures.

Choi Moon-gi, head of the International Investigation Division at the Korea Customs Service, said, “With the recent surge in illegal pharmaceutical imports, the risk of narcotic addiction due to drug misuse has increased. It is important to check whether pharmaceuticals legally sold overseas contain narcotic substances (which are prohibited from import) before purchasing.”

He added, “People should be cautious because even if they are unaware that pharmaceuticals contain narcotics and purchase and consume them overseas, they can be punished for illegal importation.”

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