Ketamine seizures up 50-fold in 5 years
Agency vows to strike overseas supply chains at the source
South Korea's National Intelligence Service said Thursday that the domestic spread of ketamine — known on the street as a club drug, "Super K" and a date-rape substance — has reached a serious level, and pledged an active response.
The NIS's Transnational Crime Intelligence Center said Thursday that illegal manufacturing and distribution of ketamine has been spreading across Asia and Europe, warning that South Korea must be especially alert to the risks of misuse and abuse.
Ketamine seizures last year hit a record 140.6 kilograms, according to the NIS — more than 50 times the 2.7 kilograms confiscated in 2020, a surge over just five years.
By volume, ketamine ranked second only to methamphetamine (376.6 kilograms) and exceeded marijuana (128.6 kilograms). The main countries of origin were Germany (62.9 kilograms), the United Kingdom (17.6 kilograms), Singapore (7 kilograms), Thailand (4.4 kilograms), the Netherlands (2.2 kilograms) and the Philippines (1.9 kilograms).
Ketamine can cause permanent damage to the urinary system when taken in excessive doses. Because it dissolves in drinks without detection and leaves the body quickly, it has been exploited as a date-rape drug.
The NIS cautioned the public to be wary of drinks offered by strangers at social gatherings or clubs, and advised anyone experiencing sudden extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness to move to a safe location as quickly as possible and report the incident to authorities.
The NIS said it plans to continue tracking overseas ketamine supply chains and distribution networks, striking them at the source, while sharing timely intelligence with domestic agencies to prevent public harm.
Meanwhile, the government's joint investigative headquarters on drug crimes said Thursday it had extradited four people from abroad — including a 40-year-old man and a 47-year-old man, identified only by their surnames — on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes related to psychotropic substances. The joint task force said it had worked closely with the NIS in apprehending the suspects.
youknow@heraldcorp.com
