A foreign organization distributing the so-called "zombie drug" mephedrone has been apprehended by the police in the country.
The Seocho Police Station in Seoul announced on the 2nd that they arrested five people, including a suspect identified as A, a national of Uzbekistan, on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, and four of them were placed under custody.
According to the police, A is suspected of operating a drug distribution channel on Telegram and selling marijuana and mephedrone to foreigners staying in the country from Russia and Central Asian countries.
A has been identified as having lured foreigners entering from Russia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan as sales and transport agents.
Based on intelligence obtained by the National Intelligence Service last February, the police conducted a joint investigation that led to their arrest, seizing 150g of mephedrone and 10g of marijuana. This is worth approximately 30 million won and is enough for about 1,500 doses.
The police have also apprehended 10 foreigners who purchased drugs from them, with two of them under investigation.
Mephedrone is a new drug spreading as a substitute for methamphetamine (philopon) in Central Asian countries. It has been nicknamed "zombie drug" because excessive use can lead individuals to bite others.