Gang smuggled narcotics from Europe, hid ketamine in rectums disguised as feces

A gang that smuggled narcotics worth 4.5 billion Korean won, including ketamine, from Europe, such as the UK and France, and distributed them to entertainment establishments in the capital region has been arrested by police. The suspects evaded surveillance through meticulous methods, including concealing ketamine by packaging it like human feces and hiding it in their rectums.

The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Unit announced on the 12th that they arrested 48 individuals, including domestic smuggling ring leader A (27 years old), on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act, and detained 18 of them.

A and others are suspected of smuggling 4.5 billion Korean won worth of new narcotics, including ketamine and ecstasy, into the country four times from September of last year to September of this year and distributing them to entertainment establishments in the capital region.

During the investigation, police seized narcotics worth 4 billion Korean won, including 8.8 kg of ketamine, approximately 100 g of philopon, approximately 500 ecstasy tablets, and 330 ml of synthetic cannabis. This quantity is enough for 300,000 people to use simultaneously. The seized items also included 'ketamine raw material (phencyclidine analog),' designated as a new narcotic by the National Forensic Service.

According to the police investigation, four smuggling ring leaders (two South Koreans and two Dutch nationals) received narcotics directly from local operatives under the online distribution manager's instructions and brought them into the country.

Notably, the two Dutch nationals smuggled approximately 2.4 kg of ketamine and ecstasy by packaging them in the form of human feces and hiding them in their rectums. A police official stated, "It was difficult to detect through visual inspection or X-ray screening."

The domestic organization operated in a cellular structure. The smuggled narcotics were scattered via a 'drop-off' method in one-room apartments or mountainsides in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, and couriers collected, repackaged, and hid them again in other locations. Sellers then took photos of the coordinates and delivered them to users through non-face-to-face sales.

Police tracked their movements through disguised online transactions and arrested them after a year-long investigation.

A Gangwon Provincial Police Agency official said, "This case shows that narcotics routes into the country are expanding from Southeast Asia to Europe. We will strengthen joint investigations with airports and customs and expand international cooperation to block overseas supply chains."

48 Arrested in 4.5 Billion Won Drug Smuggling