Gang Arrested for Selling E-cigarettes Mixed with 'Second Propofol' in Gangnam Entertainment Establishments

[Financial News] A group that smuggled prescription drugs from Hong Kong and mixed them into e-cigarettes has been arrested by the police.
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit announced on the 13th that they have arrested Mr. A (in his 40s) and Mr. B (in his 50s), who were responsible for the manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs, on charges of violating the Special Act on the Control of Health Crimes, and issued an Interpol red notice for two foreign nationals who fled abroad. The remaining eight members of the organization were sent without detention.
According to the police, since May last year, they smuggled etomidate and propoxate, which are prescription drugs, from Hong Kong and manufactured 987 e-cigarette cartridges mixed with liquid cigarettes available on the market. Etomidate is a drug used for inducing general anesthesia, known as the 'second propofol', and propoxate is used overseas for fish anesthesia.
The completed cartridges were mainly sold to employees of entertainment establishments in Gangnam. The cartridges were made to conceal the drug's smell by using various liquids such as strawberry, grape, and peach flavors according to the buyer's preference, and the appearance was identical to regular e-cigarettes. The selling price was set at 200,000 to 300,000 won per piece depending on the quantity.
Last July, after receiving a tip-off about drug use, the police launched an investigation and arrested an employee of a Gangnam entertainment establishment on charges of ketamine use in August of the same year. During the process of tracking the upper line, they secured the drugs and finished products through a search of Mr. A's residence, and the National Forensic Service's analysis confirmed them as prescription drugs. The seized items include 750ml of etomidate, 750ml of propoxate, 513 completed cartridges, and 248 million won in cash.
During the police investigation, it was revealed that the suspects also attempted to develop overseas markets. Mr. B is accused of hiding 300 cartridges in a travel bag and delivering them to an unidentified person at Bangkok Airport under the instructions of the head of the organization last October.
The police requested the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to improve the system, citing that propoxate is not currently designated as a narcotic, making it impossible to punish users. In response, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 30th of last month that it would designate it as a temporary narcotic, and from September, users will also be subject to criminal punishment.
Nam Seong-sin, head of the Narcotics Crime Investigation Division, stated, "In Hong Kong, cases of youth deaths due to the use of these drugs have been reported," and "We plan to strictly crack down on and severely prosecute those who distribute prescription drugs in large quantities."

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter