Police bust international drug ring; 9 arrested

This photo, released on Thursday by Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency, shows illicit substances seized in a drug investigation.

More than 30 people face indictment for allegedly trafficking or consuming illicit drugs from Vietnam, police said on Thursday.

According to Chungbuk Provincial Police Agency’s drug investigation unit, six members of a drug ring were arrested for trafficking synthetic cannabinoids, meth and ketamine ― worth a combined total of 1.45 billion won ($1.1 million) ― from the Southeast Asian country between August 2023 and April this year.

Arrest warrants were issued also for three of their frequent customers.

Police said 25 others, including one-time buyers and those who played minor roles in selling the drugs, are also expected to be indicted by the prosecution.

According to police, the smugglers packaged the drugs as cosmetics products and promoted and sold them through Telegram, an encrypted messaging service that has come under fire from governments around the world due to its frequent use in criminal activities.

In an effort to leave no trace of their criminal activities, the suspects transacted in cryptocurrency and adopted drop-off methods for delivery.

Police said they are still searching for accomplices based in Vietnam.

“Drug crimes are serious offenses that threaten the safety of our society,” Park Ji-hwan, a senior police officer at the team, said. “With the aim of eradicating drug crimes, we will continue to focus on criminal organizations manufacturing or distributing illicit drugs.”