North Korea’s meth prices surge as drug trafficking crackdown intensifies

North Korea is intensifying its crackdown on drug trafficking, which has led to a surge in methamphetamine prices, according to sources with knowledge of the country's northern border region. A source in North Pyongan province reported that police have launched a sweeping crackdown on drug-related crimes, particularly in areas along the North Korea-China border.

This effort has made methamphetamine, known locally as "bingdu," far harder to obtain. Methamphetamine use became widespread in North Korea in the 1990s during a devastating famine, and it remains one of the most commonly abused substances today. However, the crackdown has significantly reduced the availability of the drug, as distribution networks have largely collapsed.

Before the crackdown, people could easily obtain the drug through specialized merchants. Now, those merchants have disappeared, and the drug trade itself has contracted sharply. The risk of arrest and harsher punishments have deterred merchants from operating, driving up the prices of methamphetamine. A single dose that once sold for 100 to 200 Chinese yuan ($15 to $30) now regularly exceeds 500 yuan ($75).

Despite the price increase, demand for the drug remains steady. However, instances of drug misuse among North Koreans have notably declined due to the high prices and fear of getting caught. The authorities appear to be tightening drug enforcement to curb drug misuse and dismantle distribution networks in border regions, as these areas have long served as key conduits for drug trafficking.