How did the suspected methamphetamine ring use cold medicine to make the drug?

The group allegedly bought large quantities of cold medicine to extract pseudoephedrine, a chemical used to make methamphetamine illegally. Investigators said a traditional Korean medicine pharmacist supplied 10,610 bottles containing 636,600 pills.

How much methamphetamine did police seize from the suspected ring, and what was its estimated value?

Police seized 1.36 kilograms of methamphetamine before it could be distributed. The amount was estimated to be worth 4.2 billion won, or $3.1 million, and could be taken simultaneously by 40,000 people.

How did police investigate and apprehend the suspects in the cold-medicine meth case?

Investigators were tipped off about the scheme in December and began apprehending suspects in June after an undercover investigation. Police referred 13 suspects, including the group’s five members, to prosecutors on drug-related charges.

Drug ring busted for making meth with cold medicine

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Summary

Police busted a suspected criminal ring in Seoul that allegedly made methamphetamine using cold medicine, producing 1.36 kilograms between April 2025 and June this year. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said the drugs were worth an estimated 4.2 billion won and that 13 suspects were referred to prosecutors on drug-related charges. Investigators seized the methamphetamine before it was distributed, along with pseudoephedrine and manufacturing equipment. The group began production in an abandoned apartment, and police started apprehending suspects in June after an undercover investigation.

Key Facts

A traditional Korean medicine pharmacist allegedly sold the group 10,610 bottles of cold medicine containing 636,600 pills between January and June.
Investigators seized 635 grams of pseudoephedrine as well as equipment used to manufacture drugs.
The group’s leader had previously been imprisoned for producing methamphetamine with cold medicine in 2021.
Police were tipped off about the scheme in December after the group began producing methamphetamine in April of the previous year.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 3, 2026 2:59 pm KST

Equipments used in illegal methamphetamine production are shown in this photo released by Seoul Metropolitan Policy Agency, Tuesday. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency

Police said Tuesday they have busted a criminal ring suspected of manufacturing billions of won worth of methamphetamine using cold medicine.

The group allegedly bought large quantities of cold medicine to extract pseudoephedrine, a chemical used to illegally make methamphetamine, and produced 1.36 kilograms of the drug between April 2025 and June this year, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

The amount is estimated to be worth 4.2 billion won ($3.1 million) and can be taken simultaneously by 40,000 people.

Police have referred 13 suspects involved in the scheme, including the group's five members, to the prosecution on drug-related charges.

The group had used an abandoned apartment to begin producing the drug in April last year before investigators were tipped off about the scheme in December. Police began apprehending the suspects in June after an undercover investigation.

Investigators found that a traditional Korean medicine pharmacist and five other suspects helped the group manufacture the drugs.

The pharmacist was found to have sold the group 10,610 bottles of cold medicine, containing 636,600 pills, between January and June.

Investigators said they seized the 1.36 kg of methamphetamine before distribution as well as 635 grams of pseudoephedrine and drug manufacturing equipment.

The drug ring leader had previously been imprisoned for producing methamphetamine with cold medicine in 2021.

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