A strange and alarming discovery has been made on the shores of Jeju, a popular holiday island in South Korea. Since September, residents have been finding small packages that look like bags of Chinese tea washing up on the beaches. However, a closer look has revealed that these packages contain the illegal drug ketamine.
According to police, a total of 28 kilograms (62 lbs) of the drug have been found on at least eight separate occasions. The ketamine is wrapped in foil and disguised in packaging that is labeled with the Chinese character for “tea.” While ketamine is used as an anesthetic in medical settings, its recreational use is illegal in South Korea and can cause severe physical and mental harm, including damage to the heart and lungs.
In response to these discoveries, the Jeju Coast Guard has put together a special team to investigate how the drugs may have entered the country. They are looking into possible sea and land routes. Authorities have also issued a warning to the public, advising residents not to touch or open any suspicious packages they find along the coast. Instead, they are being asked to report any such findings to the police immediately.
A Large-Scale Search Operation
The largest discovery so far was made on October 15, when a beach cleaner found 20 kilograms of these “tea bag drugs” on the coast of Seogwipo, a city in the southern part of Jeju. The repeated findings have prompted a major response from local authorities.
Earlier this week, a massive search operation was launched along the northern coast of the island in Jeju City. A team of more than 800 people, including soldiers, police officers, and civilian volunteers, was deployed to carefully search the beaches for more of these drug packages.
Investigators are currently working on the theory that the drugs may have drifted to Jeju on ocean currents. The head of the Coast Guard’s narcotics unit was quoted in a national newspaper saying that similar discoveries of these “tea bag drugs” have also been made in other locations, including the city of Pohang in South Korea and on Tsushima island in Japan. This suggests that the problem may be more widespread than just Jeju.
Concern Among Local Residents
The presence of illegal drugs washing up on their shores has caused significant concern among the residents of Jeju. The island is a popular destination for families and tourists, and the idea of dangerous substances being found on the beaches is deeply unsettling.
“I often bring my children to this beach,” said a resident named Kim, who saw the large-scale search effort this week. “Seeing so many people looking for drugs is terrifying. I shudder to think that children might touch something like that.”
Another resident, named Hyun, expressed a desire for the authorities to focus on preventing more drugs from reaching their shores. “Stopping more [drugs] from drifting in” should be the main priority, he said.
Experts have suggested that a large criminal organization may be behind the ketamine packages. Yoon Heung-hee, a professor at Hansung University’s drug and alcohol addiction department, explained that some drug syndicates use a method called “sea bump.” This involves dropping bundles of drugs, which are equipped with tracking devices, into the ocean to be picked up later.
Professor Yoon told a local newspaper that it is possible that criminal groups were trying to smuggle the drugs into South Korea through Jeju. He suggested they may have been trying to “take advantage of lax inspections at airports and ports” on the island. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover the source of the drugs and prevent more from reaching their shores.
