Drug drop-off method used in elementary school areas
Narcotics seized by the South Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. The agency arrested 20 drug traffickers who distributed drugs using the so-called "drop-off" method, leaving substances in discreet locations in residential areas across major cities, including Seoul, before disappearing in 2023. Courtesy of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency
A recent case involving a lawmaker's son, who was belatedly charged after allegedly trying to retrieve cannabis buried in a residential flower bed in October last year, has drawn attention to the growing prevalence of the so-called "drop-off" drug method.
In another case last year, a club formed by students from a prestigious university was found to have turned into a hub for collective drug use.
Both incidents involved the drop-off method, where dealers leave drugs at a designated location for buyers to retrieve. While this method makes drug transactions more discreet, it also makes investigations more challenging.
Recent findings indicate that this method is now being used near elementary schools — places meant to be safe havens for children.
A review of more than 50 court rulings on drug crimes involving the drop-off method, conducted by the Hankook Ilbo on Wednesday, revealed that traffickers commonly used everyday locations such as flower beds, walking trails, air conditioner units, fire hydrants, villa stairwells, convenience stores and mailboxes. Public spaces like hospitals and schools were also found to be sites for drug transactions.
In January 2023, a drug buyer placed 300,000 won [$230] in cash near a playground at an elementary school in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, before retrieving yaba, a synthetic drug, from a nearby location.
In another case in 2020, a methamphetamine buyer in Seo District, Incheon, hid 300,000 won in a men's restroom at a hospital before picking up meth and a disposable syringe. University districts were also targeted, with one buyer leaving 600,000 won in a flower bed to purchase meth.
Some drug traffickers used methods reminiscent of crime films. A dealer, identified as D, used the alias "Kang Hae-sang," the name of the antagonist in the movie "The Roundup: No Way Out," while selling ecstasy and synthetic drugs.
Over two years, from 2022 to 2023, D packaged drugs in red balloons and hid them in flower beds and kitchen appliances, making a profit of approximately 16 million won.
Another dealer, E, wrapped 300 ecstasy pills in tissue and concealed them in a drainage hole in Seoul’s Gangseo District in June 2021. In a 2019 case, an individual identified as F retrieved 880 grams of meth hidden under a motel bed in Busan’s Dong District.
A Dominican man in his 20s was arrested on Feb. 5 for manufacturing and distributing the synthetic drug "Rush" in Korea. Yonhap
Online drug sales fuel rise in drop-off crimes
The surge in drop-off drug crimes is closely linked to the expansion of online drug markets. According to data obtained by Rep. Kim Yoon of the Democratic Party of Korea, the number of drug sales and advertisements detected online skyrocketed from 3,500 cases in 2020 to 11,200 in 2023.
By August last year alone, the figure had already reached 34,100 cases — more than nine times the number recorded five years earlier.
The government has not been idle in response to the growing threat. In January, it announced a basic plan for drug control, which includes expanding monitoring on platforms like Telegram and the dark web, developing real-time AI-powered CCTV analysis and institutionalizing undercover investigations.
Among these measures, experts stress the urgent need to expand undercover operations, which are currently only permitted in cases involving digital sex crimes.
"We primarily use identity-protected investigations, where officers pose as buyers to locate hidden drugs and then track down ringleaders," said a senior narcotics investigator. "However, investigators must also be allowed to infiltrate drug organizations directly."
Lee Yoon-ho, an honorary professor of police studies at Korea Cyber University, echoed the need for proactive measures, stating, "Given the irreversible harm caused by drug crimes, it is crucial to expand the use of undercover and sting operations."
Experts also emphasize the need for a systematic approach to raising awareness about drug-related dangers.
Sung Yong-eun, president of the Korean Association of Criminal Psychology, said, "Tighter regulations on drug smuggling, along with early-stage interventions such as preventive education and rehabilitation support, are essential to tackling the issue at its root."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.