Suspects spiked rival's coffee with drugs to rig golf bet, steal W75 million

A group of suspects who secretly laced a rival's coffee with narcotics during a high-stakes golf bet to swindle tens of millions of won has been referred to prosecutors.

Seoul's Namdaemun Police Station said Sunday that it had forwarded three suspects to the prosecution on Sept. 30 on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act and fraud.

The suspects arranged a money golf match against victim A at a golf course in Gyeonggi Province on July 30, then offered A a cup of coffee spiked with psychotropic drugs. A's performance deteriorated after drinking it, and A lost the match and transferred about 75 million won ($56,200) to the suspects.

Closed-circuit television footage obtained by police showed the suspects slipping a pre-prepared substance into the coffee while A briefly stepped away, then handing it over. The suspects continued the round and pressed on with the bet even as A struggled to move normally.

Police believe the suspects approached A from the outset with the intention of stealing money, gradually building a relationship before setting up the scheme.

Forensic analysis of A's hair and other samples confirmed the presence of psychotropic substances. A had no prior prescription for any medication containing those compounds.

"This case shows that drug-related crime has penetrated the everyday spaces where citizens go to enjoy their leisure time," a police official said. "We will respond sternly to drug crimes that disrupt ordinary life and mobilize all investigative resources to eradicate related offenses."