Second drug package washes ashore on South Korea in October
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A white crystalline substance weighing about 1kg was discovered at around 11am local time on Oct 24 on a beach in Aewol-eup, Jeju.
PHOTO: JEJU REGIONAL COAST GUARD
Follow topic:
SEOUL - Police said on Nov 1 that 1kg of ketamine was found washed up on a beach on Jeju Island, the second such discovery on the island in October.
According to the Jeju Regional Coast Guard, a white crystalline substance weighing about 1kg was discovered at around 11am local time on Oct 24 on a beach in Aewol-eup, Jeju. The substance was packaged in plastic and labeled with the Chinese character for “tea.” Forensic tests later confirmed the substance to be ketamine.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used in minor surgeries and childbirth to relieve pain. In South Korea, it is classified as a narcotic, as abuse can cause visual and auditory hallucinations. Authorities said the amount found could be used by up to 33,000 people.
Earlier this month, on Oct 7, a beach cleaner in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, discovered a similar foil-wrapped package
However, coast guard officials said the ketamine package found on Oct. 24 was wrapped differently from the one discovered earlier this month. Instead, they said it more closely resembled a separate case on Oct 15, when a package labeled “Chinese Oolong tea” and containing narcotics was found on a beach in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.
“We have formed a dedicated investigation team to determine the specifics of the case,” a Jeju coast guard official said. “If you find block-shaped substances or white powders labeled as tea on the beach, do not touch them and immediately report them to the coast guard.” THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
