Slight Decrease in Drug Offenders This Year... Cooperation Among Prosecutors, Police, and Customs Proves Effective

The number of drug offenders detected this year has slightly decreased compared to last year. Analysts attribute this to the strict policy of severe punishment for drug offenders, as well as the effective cooperation between investigative agencies and customs authorities.

According to the Drug Organized Crime Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on July 24, the number of drug offenders apprehended in May 2025 was 1,922, a decrease of 10.2% compared to the same period last year (2,141). From January to May 2025, a total of 8,390 drug offenders were caught, representing a 6.4% decrease from the same period in the previous year (8,968).

An official from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "Since February 2023, special drug crime investigation teams have been established in the four major regions nationwide, and the continued strengthening of crackdowns and public awareness campaigns is proving effective." The official also cited the intensified crackdown on drug smuggling in cooperation with customs authorities as another reason for the decrease in drug offenders. As a result of proactively blocking the inflow of drugs into the country and preventing their consumption, the number of drug offenders has decreased. In fact, the total amount of drugs seized by May 2025 was 514.5 kg, a 27.2% increase compared to the same period last year (404.5 kg).

By type of drug, compared to the same period last year, the number of offenders decreased across the board: cannabis offenders dropped from 261 to 190, narcotics offenders increased from 117 to 122, and psychotropic drug offenders decreased from 1,763 to 1,610. Notably, the number of cannabis offenders saw a significant decline.

Among the drug offenders detected by May 2025, 3,618 were charged with drug use, 1,891 with distribution, and 604 with smuggling. There were 569 cases of simple possession. Among those charged with drug use, 3,153 involved psychotropic substances, 398 involved cannabis, and 67 involved narcotics, indicating that the proportion of psychotropic drug use was overwhelmingly high.

The number of drug offenders in their 20s and 30s reached 5,183, accounting for 61.8% of all drug offenders. The widespread use of non-face-to-face online drug transactions via social media and the dark web appears to have contributed significantly to the increase in drug offenders under the age of 40.

As the number of foreign nationals residing in Korea increases, the number of foreign drug offenders has also continued to rise. By May 2025, there were 1,200 foreign drug offenders, a 10.2% increase from the same period last year (1,089). Vietnamese nationals accounted for the largest group with 373 offenders, followed by Chinese nationals with 279, and Thai nationals with 254.

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