Police block online sales of Trader Joe's seasoning containing poppy seeds

Seoul police have thwarted the online sale of a popular Trader Joe's seasoning blend containing poppy seeds, which were found to contain prohibited substances. The Everything but the Bagel Sesame seasoning, listed on Karrot, an online peer-to-peer marketplace in South Korea, was discovered by the Seoul Mapo Police Station. The import of the product into the country has been banned due to the presence of trace amounts of morphine and codeine in the poppy seeds, classified as narcotic substances.

The individuals involved in bringing the seasoning into South Korea as a travel souvenir have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act. In collaboration with Karrot, police have removed the related posts and implemented a "Transaction Restricted" alert, which will appear whenever a user attempts to list the banned item. Both sellers and buyers can face criminal punishment if found guilty.

This incident highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to monitor and regulate online sales, preventing the distribution of controlled substances through digital platforms.