Thirteen individuals have been arrested for manufacturing 1.36 kilograms of methamphetamine using cold medicine. Among those arrested are a pharmacist and pharmacy staff who allegedly assisted in the crime.
According to Yonhap News, on November 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Drug Crime Investigation Unit apprehended the suspects for violating drug management laws and pharmacy regulations, with four of them being detained and all cases referred to prosecutors by the end of last month.
Police reported that five individuals, including the ringleader identified as A, are accused of producing methamphetamine from pseudoephedrine, a component found in cold medicine, at an apartment in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, from April 2022 to June 2023. The street value of the drugs is estimated at approximately 4.2 billion won, enough for 40,000 people to use simultaneously.
Pharmacist B and six pharmacy staff members are suspected of aiding or abetting the methamphetamine production by selling cold medicine. The remaining two suspects are accused of selling harmful chemicals used in the manufacturing process.
Investigations revealed that B sold a total of 610,000 tablets of cold medicine, amounting to 10,610 boxes, six times between January and June of this year, despite knowing that A was using it to produce methamphetamine. Pharmacy manager C is also under investigation for selling cold medicine to A without a pharmacist's license from November last year to January this year.
Police seized 1.36 kilograms of methamphetamine, 635 grams of pseudoephedrine used in the production, manufacturing tools, and harmful chemicals. They also recovered approximately 130 million won in criminal proceeds from the sale of cold medicine. All manufactured methamphetamine was confiscated before it could be distributed.
Police began their investigation in December of last year after receiving relevant tips, conducting surveillance and searches, and apprehending the suspects starting in June. A has a prior conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine using cold medicine in 2021 and reportedly resumed criminal activities after gathering former inmates.
The police have requested the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to designate cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine as a prescription drug and urged the Korean Pharmaceutical Association to strengthen guidelines for selling cold medicine.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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