[Chuiyakgukga]⑭Police: "Undercover Investigations Introduced, Supply and Distribution Networks Blocked at Once"

■ Chapter 4. Drug Investigations at a Turning Point

Oh Changhan, Chief of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Investigation Division, National Police Agency

The police are focusing their investigative efforts on dismantling drug cartels, which are structured as decentralized cells, from the ground up. Recently, an amendment to the Narcotics Control Act allowing undercover investigations of narcotics crimes was passed. This has provided a legal foundation to strike at the leaders and the supply and distribution networks that had previously remained hidden.

Oh Changhan, Chief Superintendent of the Narcotics and Organized Crime Investigation Division at the National Police Agency, stated in an interview conducted on April 30 at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, "With the path to undercover investigations now open, we are able to block supply and distribution networks in one sweeping action," and added, "We will utilize this strategy under strict conditions to effectively counter criminal organizations."

Oh Changhan, Superintendent of the Narcotics Organized Crime Investigation Division at the National Police Agency, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

The Narcotics and Organized Crime Investigation Division, led by Oh, extradited Park Wangyeol (47), known as ‘Telegram Worldwide’, from the Philippines in March this year. On May 1, the division also apprehended and extradited Choi Byungmin (51), known as ‘Telegram Cheongdam Boss’, from Thailand, who had supplied drugs to Park.

Oh emphasized the importance of preemptive action. He explained, "While arresting offenders involved in domestic distribution and use is important, the most effective response is to block drugs from crossing the border in the first place." He continued, "Currently, we are strengthening intelligence gathering on supply networks through 63 consuls and 22 international cooperation officers dispatched to 32 countries." He also noted, "The National Police Agency is dispatching dedicated narcotics liaison officers to major drug-manufacturing and supply countries to build a practical cooperation system that can lead to joint investigations."

Regarding changes in distribution structures, he observed that the boundaries between organizations and individuals are breaking down. Oh stated, "As seen in the Park Wangyeol case, overseas drug organizations are recruiting ordinary people as couriers through social networking services (SNS) and messengers, using the lure of 'high-paying part-time jobs.' Smuggling methods are also becoming increasingly sophisticated, such as concealing ketamine in spice sauce containers or hiding it inside ceramic figurines for international mail. There was even a case where drug ingredients were disguised as eyelash adhesive remover for large-scale smuggling."

He identified the combination of non-face-to-face distribution via Telegram and payments using virtual assets as the most significant challenge. He said, "Every stage—from smuggling, sales, transport, use, to money laundering—is thoroughly compartmentalized in a decentralized cell structure. We are enhancing investigative capabilities by forming dedicated online narcotics and virtual asset investigation teams, while simultaneously conducting operations to disrupt supply networks locally through cooperation with international organizations such as INTERPOL."

In response to concerns that changes in distribution structures are making it more difficult to recover criminal proceeds, he said, "Even if we apprehend suspects, if we fail to track and recover the proceeds to the end, the organizations simply raise new funds and repeat their crimes. We are making the utmost effort to seize and confiscate criminal profits, including cracking down on virtual asset payment service providers."

Oh Changhan, Superintendent of the Narcotics Organized Crime Investigation Division at the National Police Agency, is posing in front of the signboard of the "Asia Drug Crime Response Working Group" established under the leadership of the Korean National Police Agency after an interview with The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

He expressed particular concern that the most serious change is the increasingly sophisticated infiltration of new types of drugs. In the past, drugs were distributed in the form of syringes or powders, but now they are being disguised as everyday items such as e-cigarettes, jellies, candies, and even health supplements.

Oh pointed out, "What is especially worrying is that new variants of drugs, with altered chemical structures designed to evade regulations, are constantly emerging. In reality, the speed of distribution outpaces legal regulation, and whenever a regulatory gap appears in any area, risks spread again through those loopholes." He added, "The National Police Agency is establishing a proactive response system by cooperating and sharing information with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the National Forensic Service, and by swiftly designating new types of drugs as temporary controlled substances."

Special Reporting Team | Jang Heejun, Oh Jieun, Park Hosoo, Lee Jiye, Park Jaehyun, reporters

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