Arrests of drug smugglers, manufacturers rise 33.8 pct this year: police

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SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- The number of people arrested for drug smuggling and manufacturing rose more than 30 percent in the first eight months of this year from a year earlier, police said Monday.

The National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the Korean National Police Agency said it arrested 174 people for drug manufacturing and smuggling between January and August, up 33.8 percent from 130 during the same period last year.

The number of people arrested for dealing drugs also rose 6.6 percent on-year to 3,396 during the cited period.

The total number of people caught for drug-related offenses stood at 9,530, up 5.3 percent from a year earlier. Of the total, 706 people were arrested for offenses involving medical drugs, an 11.9 percent increase from a year earlier.

Park Wang-yeol (C), a South Korean national detained in the Philippines, arrives at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, in this file photo from March 25, 2026, to face an investigation into alleged cross-border drug trafficking. (Yonhap)

The police have focused their investigative efforts on cutting off drug supply sources and distribution networks this year.

In a major case, the police repatriated and arrested notorious drug trafficker Park Wang-yeol from the Philippines, who had been imprisoned in the Southeast Asian country on suspicion of killing three South Koreans and is suspected of distributing drugs to buyers in South Korea.

The police identified 6.3 billion won (US$4.69 million) worth of drugs linked to Park, including 12.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as 8.63 billion won worth of criminal proceeds.

They later worked with Thai authorities to arrest and repatriate Choi Byeong-min, a key drug supplier for Park, uncovering 41 additional offenses and identifying 6 billion won worth of criminal proceeds, which were seized before indictment.

The NOI said it plans to strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies and foreign counterparts. As part of the efforts, the police agency will hold an international conference on narcotics next month and expand international cooperation.

graceoh@yna.co.kr (END)

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Arrests of drug smugglers, manufacturers rise 33.8 pct this year: police

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首尔，10月5日（韩联社）——警方周一表示，今年前八个月因走私和制造毒品而被捕的人数比去年同期增长了30%以上。

韩国国家警察厅下属的国家调查室（NOI）表示，今年1月至8月，共逮捕了174名涉嫌制造和走私毒品的人员，比去年同期的130人增加了33.8%。

在上述期间，因贩毒被捕的人数也比上年同期增长了6.6%，达到3396人。

因涉毒犯罪被捕的总人数为9530人，比上年同期增长5.3%。其中，因涉及医疗用药的犯罪被捕的人数为706人，比上年同期增长11.9%。

这张摄于2026年3月25日的资料照片显示，被菲律宾拘留的韩国公民朴旺烈（中）抵达首尔以西的仁川机场，接受有关涉嫌跨境贩毒的调查。（韩联社）

今年，警方将调查重点放在切断毒品供应来源和分销网络上。

一起重大案件中，警方将臭名昭著的毒贩朴旺烈从菲律宾遣返回国并逮捕。朴旺烈因涉嫌杀害三名韩国人而被关押在菲律宾，并被怀疑向韩国买家分销毒品。

警方查明与朴某有关的毒品价值 63 亿韩元（469 万美元），其中包括 12.7 公斤冰毒，以及价值 86.3 亿韩元的犯罪所得。

后来，他们与泰国当局合作，逮捕并遣返了朴槿惠的主要毒品供应商崔炳民，揭露了另外 41 项罪行，并查明了价值 60 亿韩元的犯罪所得，这些赃款在起诉前被没收。

印尼国家警察表示，计划加强与相关机构和外国同行的合作。作为相关努力的一部分，该警察机构将于下月举办国际禁毒会议，并扩大国际合作。

graceoh@yna.co.kr (完)

30人因涉嫌利用食品包装和化妆品容器走私毒品而被送上法庭。

海关机构称，截至8月，非法进口减肥药数量超过5000件。

政府将开展为期三个月的禁毒专项行动。

警方对臭名昭著的毒枭朴旺烈的关键毒品供应商发出逮捕令

（头条）一名在菲律宾被拘留的韩国毒贩被遣返回国接受调查

警方称，今年缉毒人员和制毒人员逮捕人数上升了33.8%。