{
  "id": 17917960,
  "title": "Drug ring busted for making meth with cold medicine",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/drug-ring-busted-for-making-meth-with-cold-medicine",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T05:46:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yonhap News",
    "slug": "yonhap-news",
    "url": "https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20261103007200315"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul police have dismantled a criminal organization involved in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine using cold medicine, according to a report on November 3 by Yonhap. The group allegedly acquired large quantities of cold medicine, extracting pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in meth production, resulting in the creation of 1.36 kilograms of the drug between April 2025 and June of the same year. This amount is estimated to have a street value of 4.2 billion won (approximately US$3.1 million) and can be consumed by up to 40,000 individuals. Thirteen suspects, including the group's five members, have been referred to prosecutors on drug-related charges. The operation began in an abandoned apartment in April 2024, with investigators alerted in December. Intrusion occurred in June following an undercover probe. It emerged that a traditional Korean medicine pharmacist and five other suspects facilitated the drug manufacturing process. The pharmacist sold the group 10,610 bottles of cold medicine, containing 636,600 pills, from January to June. The 1.36 kg of methamphetamine, along with 635 grams of pseudoephedrine and drug-making equipment, were seized before distribution. The leader of the drug ring had previously served time for a similar methamphetamine production case in 2021.",
  "summary": "SEOUL, Nov. 3 (Yonhap) -- Police said Tuesday they have busted a criminal ring s...",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul police dismantle meth ring using cold medicine",
    "1.36 kg methamphetamine produced, street value $3.1M",
    "13 suspects, including pharmacist, charged in case"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Drug ring busted for making meth with cold medicine",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/drug-ring-busted-for-making-meth-with-cold-medicine-17918770",
        "published": "2026-11-03T06:07:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}