The image shows a rice cooker where the nightclub owner, Mr. B, stored narcotics. This image was provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit.
The police arrested foreigners who were distributing and using drugs in karaoke rooms and other places after conducting an undercover investigation. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit announced on the 27th that they arrested 41 individuals, including a Vietnamese national who was the head of the operation supplying drugs to entertainment establishments, and detained 15 of them. All the arrested individuals have been sent to the prosecution.
According to the police, the Vietnamese national Mr. A and 19 other accomplices had been distributing drugs like ketamine and ecstasy to entertainment venues in the Gyeonggi and Incheon areas from October 2023 to August of the previous year.
Out of the 41 suspects involved in the distribution and use of drugs, 34 were Vietnamese nationals. The distribution network, mostly composed of Vietnamese individuals, built trust through their shared nationality and operated covertly in a cell-like structure. They entered the country for reasons such as marriage, studying, employment, or language training but were tempted by the prospect of quick, high profits to get involved in drug crimes.
The police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A, who fled to Vietnam, and requested an Interpol Red Notice. Thirteen members of Mr. A’s group were detained and sent to prosecution.
The police received a tip that Mr. B, a bar owner in Incheon’s Gyeyang District, was selling drugs to customers. After infiltrating the bar disguised as customers, the police arrested the venue manager, who attempted to sell ketamine to an officer, as a flagrant offender. Based on Mr. B’s statement, the police identified and arrested other suspects and seized the drugs. Mr. B became acquainted with the Vietnamese during the operation of the bar and purchased drugs from them. To avoid detection by law enforcement, the drugs were stored in a rice cooker in the bar’s storage, and payments were collected in cash. Sales were conducted by phone reservation to avoid rumors. Mr. C, a karaoke room owner in Incheon’s Seo District, was arrested for providing a “secret room” and tools for drug use in exchange for 10,000 to 20,000 won. Mr. B and Mr. C were detained and sent to prosecution in September of last year.
During the arrest process, the police seized 207 grams of ketamine, 1,246 pills of ecstasy, 20 ml of synthetic marijuana, and 24,590,000 won in cash. They have received approval for pre-trial confiscation and preservation of 64,400,000 won gained from the crimes.
A police official stated, “We will continue rigorous investigations into large-scale drug smuggling and distribution offenders, as well as those involved in covert sales and use in entertainment districts.”