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Ulsan police arrest 20 for buying and selling illegal drugs

Published: 02 Aug. 2023, 17:04

Police seized drugs worth 200 million won ($154,130) from alleged drug offenders, including synthetic marijuana. [ULSAN METROPOLITAN POLICE AGENCY]

Police arrested dozens of drug offenders suspected of dealing drugs through Telegram.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency on Wednesday apprehended a total of 34 people for alleged drug crimes.

Nineteen of the suspects, including the alleged mastermind, are accused of violating the Narcotics Control Act. Nine were detained.

The other 15 are accused of buying the drugs, with 11 of them detained.

Police believe the drug dealers pocketed 1.4 billion won ($1.08 million) from selling drugs across the country, including Seoul, Gyeonggi and Busan, between March last year and May.

Police froze all criminal proceeds and confiscated 86 million won in cash and assets. They also seized 200 million won in drugs, including synthetic marijuana.

The suspects ran five Telegram channels to sell them, which were only accessible through links individuals received.

Over 3,000 people joined the channels.

The drugs sold through these channels included liquid cannabis and LSD, all smuggled from countries such as Vietnam.

Police say the dealers executed their plans strategically, adapting the “throwing method,” where drugs are dropped at a designated area and buyers pick them up.

They hid the drugs in electrical distribution panels and outdoor air conditioning units in some 80 residential areas for purchasers to pick up.

The suspects also received payments in cryptocurrencies so they would not be traced.

According to the police, the drug dealers were young, mostly university students or people just starting their careers.

“There was even a high school student who received monthly payments to deliver drugs,” a police spokesperson said.

The drug dealers also allegedly helped launder the criminal proceeds of other drug traffickers upon request.

Police said they laundered 1.7 billion won of criminal proceeds for cryptocurrencies, receiving a 10 percent commission for each transaction.

The 20-something-year-old mastermind allegedly lived a life of luxury based on his criminal activities.

“The suspect lived in a high-end residence in Seongsu-dong, and drove a Porsche worth over 100 million won,” the police said.

The man also owned a cafe in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, and spent money at high-end bars in the Gangnam area in southern Seoul, according to police.

Ulsan police are trying to determine exactly how much money the drug dealers made. They are also pursuing the suppliers and individuals who requested the money laundering.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO, KIM YOUN-HO [[email protected]]