South Korea is reportedly suffering from drug pollution due to the influence of cryptocurrency-powered illegal activities.

Report Claims South Korea is Facing a Cryptocurrency-Powered Epidemic of Drug Trading, Leading to Pollution of Dead-Dropped Narcotics

Tim Alper Last updated: January 31, 2024 22:58 EST | 3 min read

South Korea’s crypto-powered drug trading epidemic is seeing the country become “polluted” with dead-dropped narcotics, a new report has claimed.

Per Ilyo Shinmun, a 59-year-old man who was arrested for drug offenses told police that he had not bought the narcotics he was caught taking.

Instead, the man claimed that he found the drugs – methamphetamine and cannabis – hidden on a hill in Gangwon Province.

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Police officers have yet to authenticate the veracity or otherwise of his claim. But, the media outlet noted, the claims are not implausible.

This is especially true when considering the recent sharp uptick in crypto-related drug criminals who use public spaces to dead drop narcotics.

South Korea Wages ‘War’ on Crypto-powered Drug Crimewave

President Yoon Seok-yeol has claimed that the country is now at war with crypto-powered drug traders.

Using Telegram as a communication platform and cryptoassets as a payment tool, teenagers as young as 14 are buying and selling narcotics online.

Dealers offer “delivery” in the neighborhood of the buyer’s choosing. Buyers then transfer crypto to the dealers’ wallets.

And a few hours later, police say, dealers contact buyers to explain where their drugs are hidden.

Typically, the report’s authors explained, dealers choose public areas such as apartment complexes.

And they often choose to leave drugs in mailboxes, electricity, water, and gas meters, or drainpipes.

Other popular spots include “hospital restrooms, public parking lots, under store signboards, basement window frames, electrical wiring, and behind doorknobs in public spaces.”

Police Concerned as Crypto-powered Drug Epidemic Intensifies

The media outlet gave the example of a recent case in Daejeon’s Eastern District. Here, a resident called the police when they spotted “a stranger searching several mailboxes” in their apartment.

Officers arrived at the scene and discovered that the person in question was a drug buyer, and later found “30 doses of drugs wrapped in black tape inside one of the mailboxes.”

In another case reported on January 12, a citizen in Seoul came to a police station in the Jungnang District to explain that they had found what looked like a lost “coin purse.”

After opening the wallet, the citizen said they had found a bag with a “strange powder inside.”

Officers recognized that the powder was methamphetamine. They used CCTV footage to identify the wallet’s owner, and found this individual with “bags containing more” of the substance in their pockets.

The report’s author warned:

“Nowadays, we live in a world where you can even find drugs in a wallet you find at the side of the road. If you just […] pick it up and then leave it on the side of the road because something doesn’t feel right, you could find yourself the subject of a drug-related investigation.”

Police officers have also complained that drug dealers are using “flower beds outside buildings, gas meter boxes, outdoor air conditioning units, and electric poles” as hiding spots.

Officers added that “poorly maintained buildings” used to be “frequent trading spots.” But they conceded that “now, almost all everyday spaces are a drug distribution route.”

Investigators claimed that in some instances, drugs had been hidden “on the same street as major courthouses” or “outside elementary schools.”

Crypto-powered Drug Dealers ‘Infiltrate the Military’

Armed forces spokespeople added that an increasing number of military personnel have been caught buying and selling drugs using crypto.

In some instances, dealers snuck into army bases and other military facilities to leave bags of drugs for serving conscripts.

The Ministry of Defence’s Military Manpower Administration has responded by announcing plans to conduct drug tests on conscripts during the screening process.

Courts have responded with increasingly heavy sentences. Earlier this month a convicted crypto-powered drug dealer was jailed for seven years in Busan. An accomplice received a 2.5-year jail term.

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Enhanced Article: South Korea’s Crypto-powered Drug Epidemic: A Deep-Dive Analysis

🔍💊🌪️

South Korea, known for its technological advancements, is grappling with a disturbing trend – a crypto-powered drug trading epidemic. 🚫💸💉 A recent report suggests that the streets of the country are being “polluted” with narcotics in dead-drop locations. 😱📦💊

Chapter 1: The Hidden Problem

A 59-year-old man, arrested for drug offenses, claimed that he stumbled upon the hidden drugs – methamphetamine and cannabis – on a hill in Gangwon Province. While the claim awaits authentication, the surge in crypto-related drug crimes makes it plausible. Dealers are increasingly using public spaces as a means to discreetly deliver drugs, making the situation even more alarming. 🏞️⛰️📦🌿

Chapter 2: The Battle Begins

President Yoon Seok-yeol acknowledges the severity of the situation, stating that the country is now at war with crypto-powered drug traders. Teenagers as young as 14 are engaging in online drug transactions, facilitated by the use of Telegram as a communication platform and cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. The entire process involves buyers choosing a location for delivery, transferring crypto to the dealers’ wallets, and finally receiving information about where the drugs are concealed. 🤖🤳💳📦💊

Chapter 3: Public Places Turned Criminal Havens

The report highlights the preference of dealers for public areas, such as apartment complexes, to leave the drugs. Mailboxes, electricity and water meters, and drainpipes are commonly used hiding spots. But the list doesn’t end there – dealers have been getting creative, concealing drugs behind store signboards, in hospital restrooms, and even in electrical wiring and basement window frames. 😲🏢📮💡🚿🚪

Chapter 4: Concerns & Consequences

The intensification of the crypto-powered drug epidemic has raised concerns among law enforcement authorities. Recent incidents include a drug buyer being caught searching mailboxes and another citizen stumbling upon a mysterious bag with a suspicious powder inside. Drug dealers are taking advantage of flower beds, gas meter boxes, and public infrastructure as hiding spots, with everyday spaces now becoming drug distribution routes. 😨📬🌼⚡🏢

Chapter 5: Military Infiltration

Even the military has not been spared from this rising menace. An increasing number of military personnel have been involved in buying and selling drugs using cryptocurrencies. In some shocking cases, dealers infiltrated army bases and other military facilities to leave bags of drugs for serving conscripts. In response, the Ministry of Defence plans to conduct drug tests during the screening process, aiming to curb this alarming trend. 🎖️💔💲📃

Chapter 6: Crackdown & Sentencing

The courts have not taken these crimes lightly. Sentences for crypto-powered drug dealers have become increasingly severe. A recent case involving a convicted dealer in Busan resulted in a hefty jail term of seven years, while an accomplice was sentenced to 2.5 years. This tough stance reflects society’s determination to eradicate these dangerous activities. ⚖️⛓️🦧

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Q&A Section

Q: Are there any specific measures being taken by the South Korean government to combat the crypto-powered drug epidemic?

A: Yes, President Yoon Seok-yeol has declared a war against crypto-powered drug traders. The Ministry of Defence’s Military Manpower Administration plans to implement drug tests during the screening process for military conscripts. These steps demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing the issue.

Q: How can the general public protect themselves from potentially stumbling upon drugs?

A: In this epidemic, it is crucial to exercise caution. If you come across suspicious items, such as wallets or bags, it’s advisable to report them to the authorities rather than handling them yourself. Remember, even innocently picking up an item could unwittingly involve you in a drug-related investigation.

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References:

1. South Korea’s Stance on Crypto Launch Lanka Pay 2024
2. South Korean Crypto Drug Dealer Jailed for 7 Years

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