3 more warrants issued in hagwon drugged-drink blackmail scheme

Social Affairs

Published: 13 Apr. 2023, 17:21 Updated: 13 Apr. 2023, 17:36

3 more warrants issued in hagwon drugged-drink blackmail scheme

One of the spiked drinks labeled ″Mega ADHD″ that was handed to high school students as part of a blackmail scheme [SEOUL GANGNAM POLICE PRECINCT]

Arrest warrants were issued for three suspects in an elaborate blackmail scheme involving drug-laced drinks and cram school students in the Gangnam area of Seoul.

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for a Korean in his 20s and two Chinese nationals in their 30s, according to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s narcotics unit.

Two of the suspects — the Korean man and one of the Chinese men — allegedly ordered a middleman in Korea to produce ecstasy- and methamphetamine-laced drinks to give to passing students in Daechi-dong, Gangnam, a cram-school-dense area, and blackmailed the parents of the students. Police say they sent empty bottles to another suspect, who was arrested on Monday.

All three subjects of the Wednesday-issued arrest warrants are currently residing in China.

The Korean man and one of the Chinese nationals are reportedly associated with a voice phishing gang, while the other Chinese suspect is believed to be involved with a drug trafficking organization. The Korean suspect has been in China since last October after being implicated in a voice phishing case in Korea.

Police have initiated the process to extradite them to Korea by getting Interpol to issue red notices for them and canceling their passports.

The arrested middleman has testified that he produced the drinks by mixing meth and milk in Wongju, Gangwon and delivered them to part-time workers in Seoul through express post.

All four part-time workers hired to distribute the drugged drinks last week either turned themselves in or were arrested by the police by last Thursday.

They told police that they were unaware of what the drinks contained and signed up for the job after seeing a job post promising high compensation.

Another suspect was arrested Monday for allegedly using a repeater, calling the parents of the students and threatening to report the children to the police.

The crew is accused of blackmailing seven parents through phone calls and Kakao Talk messages. According to police, one parent was asked to pay 100 million won ($76,000) so that their child would not be reported to the police for drug use.

At least eight people have reported being drugged.

Police hand out notices to students alerting them of potential drug crimes in front of a high school in Songpa District, southern Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]

As the case came into the spotlight, investigative and education authorities, including National Police Agency and the Education Ministry, established a special investigation team for drug crimes that will serve to coordinate drug crime investigations.

Online monitoring will be strengthened to prevent minors from being exposed to drugs. The National Police Agency is also said to be establishing a hotline to report suspected drug crimes immediately.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]