Joint Task Force Launches Crackdown on Drug Crimes, Deploying 75 Prosecutors and Police

The government has launched a joint task force to eradicate drug crimes. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced the establishment of the 'Joint Government Task Force on Drug Crimes' at the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, with participation from eight agencies, including the prosecution, police, and customs service. This joint task force aims to create synergy by integrating drug crime investigation and administrative capabilities that are currently分散 across various agencies.

The position of Task Force Director is currently vacant, with Shin Jun-ho, First Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Busan District Prosecutors' Office, serving as acting director. Park Heon-soo, Chief of the Investigative Division of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, will serve as Deputy Director, supporting the task force's operations. The command structure of the task force consists of four prosecutor's offices, seven investigative teams (focused on smuggling, distribution, and cybercrime), one investigative support team, and two special enforcement teams (targeting high-risk facilities and foreigners). Each team will conduct specialized investigations tailored to the specific characteristics of drug crimes.

Goo Ja-hyun, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, emphasized at the launch ceremony that the joint task force will become a core investigative organization for curbing drug crimes. He stated that relevant agencies will cooperate closely to eradicate drug offenses.

The joint task force plans to conduct intensive investigations into all types of drug crimes, including smuggling, distribution, and use. In particular, it will focus on cracking down on drug trafficking via the internet and social media, foreign drug crime organizations, and drug use in high-risk facilities, all of which have been on the rise recently.

Furthermore, the joint task force will actively work to prevent drug crimes and support rehabilitation efforts. It plans to strengthen education and awareness campaigns targeting youth and local communities to highlight the dangers of drugs, and expand treatment and rehabilitation programs for drug addicts, thereby contributing to a healthier society.

The government has expressed its determination to win the war on drugs with the launch of this joint task force. It emphasized that all relevant agencies, including the prosecution, police, and customs service, will work together to eradicate drug crimes and create a society where citizens can live without fear.

The Ministry of Justice is pursuing comprehensive measures to eradicate drug crimes, including strengthening punishment for drug offenders, blocking drug trafficking routes, and improving treatment and rehabilitation systems. The government stated that it will strive to create a drug-free Korea through these efforts.

An official from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "The launch of this joint task force will be a significant turning point in the war on drugs." He added, "We will concentrate all our capabilities to eradicate drug crimes." The official also urged the public to actively report and cooperate in the fight against drug crimes.