More than 5,200 drug offenders nabbed in H1

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Police in South Korea have apprehended over 5,200 drug offenders during the first half of the year, with a 7.8 percent year-on-year increase, according to a report released on Sunday. The crackdowns yielded 1,039 arrests, marking a significant rise from the previous year. Among the apprehended offenders, those involved in drug production, smuggling, and sales constituted 39.2 percent of the total, a slight increase from 36.4 percent a year ago.

Online substance-related crimes saw a more substantial rise, accounting for 41.9 percent of the total, up from 36.8 percent in the prior year. Foreign drug offenders numbered 848, a 114-person increase from the previous year. In terms of monetary gains, police recovered 3.84 billion won (approximately US$2.66 million) worth of criminal proceeds related to substance-related crimes during the first half.

As the second half crackdowns commence on Monday and extend through December, police have vowed to intensify efforts against online crimes and those involving foreign offenders. Special teams will be deployed to focus on drug transactions involving virtual assets and social media platforms like Telegram.