Gyeongnam Police Arrest Suspects Involved in Buying and Selling 'Narcotic Appetite Suppressants'

Medical narcotics seized by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit.

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[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit announced on the 16th that they have apprehended suspects who purchased, administered, and possessed medical narcotics.

According to the police, the so-called 'Nabi-yak' (Butterfly Drug) administered by the suspects is an appetite suppressant designated under Article 2, Clause 3, Subparagraph (Ra) of the Narcotics Control Act as a psychotropic drug.

This drug, shaped like a butterfly, is a prescription medication containing phentermine, which can cause addiction, hallucinations, and auditory hallucinations as side effects.

When abused or misused, it can cause physical and psychological dependence and tolerance, leading to withdrawal symptoms such as convulsions, coma, psychotic behavior, and in severe cases, death.

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Division reported that from March 5 to April 15, they apprehended individuals who visited hospitals and clinics in Gangwon and Gyeongbuk provinces to obtain the drug by prescription under their own or others' names, advertised and sold the drug on SNS, and suspects who purchased, administered, and possessed the medical narcotics.

During the investigation, they seized 106 tablets that were either illegally prescribed and stored for sale or purchased through SNS but were kept unused after experiencing severe side effects from one or two doses.

The police have secured clues that cases of advertising and selling appetite suppressants designated as narcotics on SNS for teenagers to earn pocket money or purchasing them for dieting purposes are increasing, and are conducting investigations accordingly.

Due to illegal distribution such as sales for teenagers' pocket money, which can cause serious problems throughout society, the police notified related agencies and sought their cooperation.

They requested the Ministry of Education to inform that appetite suppressants designated as narcotics have side effects and that illegal purchases are punishable during education on preventing youth drug addiction.

They urged the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to emphasize through medical and pharmaceutical associations that safety standards must be strictly followed when prescribing medical narcotics to teenagers at hospitals and clinics.

They also requested the Korea Communications Commission to preemptively block and delete illegal advertisements for appetite suppressants indiscriminately exposed on SNS.

A police official stated, “Taking the drug through legitimate medical treatment and prescription is not considered a violation of the law, but abuse or misuse can cause serious side effects,” adding, “Even simple curiosity leading to access to narcotics can be punishable, so prevention education on narcotics abuse and misuse is necessary at home and school.”

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