In brief
Since September, Jeju Island has seen a surge of illicit drugs, particularly ketamine packaged as Chinese tea bags. Authorities have discovered about 28 kg of the drug over several incidents, stressing the health risks associated with its recreational use. A large-scale search involving over 800 personnel is underway, as authorities urge residents to avoid touching any suspicious packages and report them instead. Experts suggest a possible organized effort behind this smuggling method, leveraging ocean currents to transport drugs to the South Korean coast.
Since September, residents on South Korea's Jeju island have been spotting small packs of what appear to be bags of Chinese tea washed ashore. Upon closer inspection, however, they were found to contain ketamine.
Some 28kg (62 lbs) of the drug, wrapped in foil and labelled with the Chinese character for tea, have been found on at least eight occasions, police say.
Ketamine is used as an anaesthetic in medical procedures, but its recreational use is illegal in South Korea. It can cause severe physical and mental damage, including to the heart and lungs, when misused.
The Jeju Coast Guard has formed a team to trace possible sea and land routes through which the drugs may have entered the country.
Authorities have also warned residents not to touch or open any suspicious objects found along the shore, asking them to instead report such discoveries to police.
On 15 October, a beach cleaner found 20kg of these tea bag drugs - the largest haul in the last two months - along the coast of Seogwipo in southern Jeju.
Earlier this week, a team of more than 800 soldiers, police officers and civilian volunteers was deployed to comb the beaches in Jeju City, along the holiday island's northern coast, Korea JoongAng Daily reported.
Investigators are now focusing on the possibility that the drugs drifted to Jeju via ocean currents, according to the national daily.
A resident shared their concerns, stating, I often bring my children to this beach. Seeing so many people looking for drugs is terrifying. Others have expressed a desire for authorities to take measures to prevent more drugs from arriving.
Experts speculate that larger criminal syndicates may be responsible for these incidents, utilizing sea routes and taking advantage of lax inspections in the region.
