Food and drug safety ministry launches three-month anti-drug crackdown

The food and drug safety ministry said Friday it will conduct a joint government-wide special crackdown on narcotics for three months starting August 1. The operation focuses on blocking overseas inflows, policing clubs and entertainment bars during holidays, and cracking down on the illegal distribution of medical drugs such as ketamine.

The crackdown covers the August summer vacation season, the Chuseok holiday in September and the Halloween season in October, periods selected to address spikes in overseas travel and nightlife activity. Authorities noted that more than 20,000 drug offenders are caught annually, with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for about 60 percent of the total.

Particular attention will be paid to ketamine, as domestic seizures rose from 43 kilograms in 2023 to 89 kilograms in 2024 and 141 kilograms in 2025. To counter this, the ministry will activate an AI-based monitoring system through its Special Surveillance Unit for Medical Narcotics to detect abnormal prescribing patterns and online advertisements for abuse.

Customs, prosecutors, police and other agencies will share intelligence to screen high-risk travelers and vessels at airports and ports. Joint inspection teams will target nightlife districts and neighborhoods with high foreign populations, conducting visible searches during late-night hours on weekends. Officials stated they will trace not only simple users but also expand investigations into domestic smuggling and distribution networks.