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| Two suspects in the distribution of drug-laced drinks to random high school students in Seoul are escorted by police to enter the Seoul Central District Court to attend their arrest warrant hearings, Monday. Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
Police have requested the assistance of Chinese authorities in locating two individuals based in China suspected of masterminding the distribution of drinks laced with drugs to high school students in Seoul.
The police suspect that the latest case could be linked to a voice phishing ring based in China, based on an investigation that revealed at least three of the suspects have historical involvement in voice phishing scams.
Police are also considering the possibility that there could have been a higher-ranked mastermind behind the crimes.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Monday, investigators are tracking down two suspects based in China ― a Korean national in his 20s surnamed Lee and a Chinese national in his 30s surnamed Park, on suspicion that the two ordered a Korea-based suspect surnamed Gil to make and supply drinks laced with illegal drugs.
Lee, who has a history of involvement in voice phishing scams in Korea, went to China last October, according to the police.
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| A drink containing methamphetamine, which was handed out to random students in Seoul, April 3 / Courtesy of Gangnam Police Station |
The drinks in question were distributed on April 3 to high school students by four other individuals in areas near Gangnam-gu Office Station on Seoul Metro Line 7 and the Suin-Bundang Line, and Daechi Station on Seoul Metro Line 3. Both are crowded with renowned study academies.
The four allegedly offered the drinks for free claiming it was a "tasting event" and tricked students into believing that such drinks were helpful for improving memory and concentration.
The crime ring also allegedly blackmailed the parents of students who consumed the drinks, demanding money to prevent their children from being reported to the police for drug use.
The four individuals claimed that they were just part-time workers hired through the internet and did not know that the drinks were laced with drugs.
According to the police, however, one of the four individuals has a history of involvement in voice phishing scams dozens of times.
The police are investigating another suspect, surnamed Kim, alleging that he masked internet phone numbers coming from China as local mobile phone numbers when blackmailing the parents.
Kim has allegedly specialized in altering phone numbers for voice phishing scam rings and has been connected to prior phishing scams at least 14 times.
During police questioning, Kim denied his connections with the drug-laced drinks, claiming that he was not acquainted with Gil and had believed his work of altering phone numbers would be used only for voice phishing crimes.
The police have sought arrest warrants for Gil and Kim.
The police are expanding their investigation to look into the Kakao IDs used to communicate with the part-time workers who distributed the drinks.
In order to cope with increasing concerns over drug-related crimes, the government will launch an interagency investigation team comprised of personnel from the prosecution, the police, the Korea Customs Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
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| Senior prosecutor Shin Bong-soo speaks during a media briefing at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Monday, unveiling plans to launch an interagency investigation team to cope with increasing drug-related crimes. Yonhap |
"Recent drug-related crimes are beyond the addiction problems of individuals and have developed into new kinds of crimes combined with voice phishing and even threatening teenagers," senior prosecutor Shin Bong-soo said during a media briefing, Monday.
Shin will co-head the envisioned special drug crime investigation team.
The team will enhance online and offline monitoring for signs of drug crimes and apply for heavier punishment ― at least five years in prison and up to life sentences ― for those who supply drugs to teenagers.
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