Archive · 5 Oct 2026
South Korean Drug Smuggling and Manufacturing Arrests Rise 33.8 Percent
South Korean police arrested more people for making and smuggling drugs in the first eight months of this year than during the same period last year.
They also arrested more people for selling drugs and for other drug-related offences.
Police say they are trying to stop drugs from being supplied and distributed.
In one case, they brought Park Wang-yeol back from the Philippines and arrested him.
Police linked drugs, including methamphetamine, and money from crime to the case.
They also worked with Thai authorities to arrest and bring back Choi Byeong-min.
Police said they plan to work more with other agencies and countries.
They will hold an international conference on narcotics next month.
South Korean police arrested 174 people for drug manufacturing and smuggling from January through August, up 33.8% from 130 a year earlier.
Arrests for drug dealing rose 6.6% to 3,396, while total drug-related arrests increased 5.3% to 9,530.
Police said 706 people were arrested for offences involving medical drugs, an 11.9% increase.
Police linked drugs worth 6.3 billion won, including 12.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, to Park Wang-yeol and identified 8.63 billion won in criminal proceeds.
Police also worked with Thai authorities to arrest and repatriate Choi Byeong-min, identifying 6 billion won in criminal proceeds that were seized before indictment.
- Who
- South Korea's National Office of Investigation and Korean National Police Agency.
- What
- Police reported increases in arrests for drug manufacturing, smuggling, dealing and other drug-related offences.
- When
- January through August of this year; the figures were reported Monday.
- Where
- South Korea, with investigations involving the Philippines and Thailand.
- Why
- Police said they are focusing on cutting off drug supply sources and distribution networks.
- Manufacturing and smuggling arrests
- 174, up 33.8% from 130 in the same period a year earlier
- Drug-dealing arrests
- 3,396, up 6.6%
- Total drug-related arrests
- 9,530, up 5.3%
- Medical-drug offences
- 706 arrests, up 11.9%
- Drugs linked to Park Wang-yeol
- Worth 6.3 billion won, including 12.7 kilograms of methamphetamine
- Criminal proceeds identified
- 8.63 billion won linked to Park's case; 6 billion won identified in the case involving Choi Byeong-min and seized before indictment
- Planned international conference
- The police agency said it will hold a conference on narcotics next month