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There was a huge increase in new types of narcotics smuggled into Korea last year. According to a white paper on drug trafficking by the Supreme Prosecutor's Office, some 3,218 pills of new or unusual drugs were confiscated in Korea in 2006. That's a rise of 127.1 percent compared to the 1,417 capsules that were seized in 2005.
Of the drugs seized in 2006, 2,995 pills were amphetamine, a type of philopon that had not been smuggled into Korea from 2002 to 2005, and 151 pills of methaqualone, which is a sedative-hypnotic. Some 72 Ecstasy pills or other forms of MDMA were also confiscated.
The total volume of foreign narcotics that was caught in Korea in 2006 was 25.9 kg, which is a 11.3 percent decline from 29.2 kg in 2005. The number of drug trafficking cases, however, increased from 112 in 2005 to 127 last year.
Of the 116 foreigners caught with drugs last year, 46 or 39.7 percent were Americans, making up the largest group. There were also 11 Chinese and 11 Canadians. The number of Americans increased 91.7 percent from 24 in 2005, while Chinese were down 50 percent from 22 in 2005.
Prosecutors believe the rising number of American drug offenders correlates to a rising number of English teachers coming to Korea, prompted by the recent trend for English education.
The total of 116 foreign drug offenders caught in Korea last year is a 28.4 percent decline from the year before. There were 88 foreign drug offenders caught in 2002, 86 in 2003, 203 in 2004, and 162 in 2005.
According to an analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, of the 30 kg of cocaine and philopon that was confiscated in Korea last year, only 8 kg or 26 percent was intended for domestic consumption. The other 22 kg percent was being shipped through Korea to overseas markets.
Prosecutors said that Korea, which was once considered drug-free, is increasingly being used as a conduit by criminal groups for international drug trafficking.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office will discuss building an international anti-trafficking network and other ways to further international cooperation at the 17th Anti-Drug Liaison Officials' Meeting for International Cooperation from June 13 to 15 on Jeju Island.
Representatives from 23 countries including the U.S., India, the Philippines, and Thailand will participate in the meeting, along with officials from three international organizations including the UN and Interpol.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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