\n[Park Sun-woo, Digital Team Reporter psw92@sisajournal.com]
**If all of the discovered and reported substances are identified as ketamine, it’s a quantity that could simultaneously dose 900,000 people.**
On November 7th in the morning, a sea protector discovered and reported a new type of drug, ketamine, at Yongdam Port, Aewol-eup, Jeju City. © Provided by Jeju Coast Guard
Instances of drugs disguised as tea bags are repeatedly being discovered along the coast of Jeju Island.
According to the Jeju Coast Guard on the 10th, suspected drug reports were received from a sea protector and a citizen at Dongbok-ri, Gujwa-eup at around 9:30 AM, and Aewol-eup beach at 11:10 AM. These objects are similar to those disguised as Chinese Tieguanyin oolong tea packages, which were found at Imgo-ri Beach in Pohang, Gyeongbuk, and Aewol-eup beach in Jeju last month on the 15th and 24th, respectively.
Earlier on November 7th, around 9 AM, a sea protector at Yongdam Port in Jeju City found ketamine and reported it to the Coast Guard. This ketamine was in packaging similar to the one found on September 29th at Gwangchigi Beach, Seongsan-eup, with a sealed 1 kg white crystal inside a square block-shaped package labeled with the Chinese character for tea (茶).
Since late September, ketamine or suspected drug objects disguised as tea bags have been continuously found along the coasts of Jeju Island. These discoveries have occurred a total of eight times at locations such as Jeju Port, Jocheon-eup, Gujwa-eup, Yongdam Port, and Gwangchigi Beach in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo City. If all these objects are confirmed to be ketamine, it amounts to approximately 27 kg, a quantity large enough to dose about 900,000 people simultaneously. Ketamine is classified as a new type of drug because, when inhaled in large quantities, it causes hallucinations, memory impairment, and other symptoms.
In response, investigative authorities, including Jeju police and the Coast Guard, are continuing their search and investigation to determine the circumstances of the cases.