North Korean defector caught using illegal drugs

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By Jun Ji-hye

A North Korean defector has been picked up for habitual use of illegal drugs, police said, Wednesday.

Police in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District said they sent the case to the prosecution earlier this month.

The man in his 30s had already been booked by police in Seoul's Jongno District late last month for use of illegal drugs after turning himself in to the traffic police at Cheong Wa Dae, Jan. 23.

At the time, he reportedly told the police officers there, “I took Philopon (methamphetamine).”

The police then found methamphetamine, marijuana and syringes in his bag, and discovered multiple needle marks in his arm.

At the time, a court rejected a request for an arrest warrant for him. Following this he took the illegal drugs again and turned himself in again to the police in Yeongdeungpo District.

The man has already been convicted twice of illegal drug use since he defected from North Korea a decade ago, according to police officials. When he turned himself in to the traffic police at Cheong Wa Dae, it was just five days after he had been released from prison.

A court issued a warrant for his arrest this time.