Vietnamese Man in His 20s Arrested for Smuggling New Drug Disguised as Saline Solution

[Financial News] A Vietnamese man in his 20s was caught by customs authorities after allegedly smuggling and distributing a liquid substance containing a Class 1 temporary controlled drug into South Korea through social media.
Busan Headquarters Customs under the Korea Customs Service said on the 2nd that it had arrested and referred to prosecutors A, a 23-year-old Vietnamese national and domestic distributor, on charges including violating the Act on the Control of Narcotics, and placed B, a 32-year-old Vietnamese woman and Vietnam-based supplier, on a wanted list.

They are suspected of taking orders from 15 Korean buyers in early May for 20 bottles of Rush, a liquid substance containing isobutyl nitrite, a Class 1 temporary controlled drug, and attempting to smuggle it into the country after falsely declaring it as saline solution and other substances.
According to Busan Headquarters Customs, A and B conspired to smuggle illegal drugs into South Korea after receiving orders from domestic buyers through social media. B took online orders in Vietnam, while A served as the operation’s base in South Korea by collecting payments, processing refunds, and providing updates on domestic deliveries, customs officials explained.
The case came to light when Rush ordered by C, a Nepalese worker living in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, was intercepted during an inspection at Incheon Airport Customs.
While tracking and arresting the actual recipient, the Busan customs investigation team discovered indications that a specialized domestic distributor was involved. After closely analyzing financial flows and customs clearance data, investigators arrested A, who had been hiding in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. They also succeeded in arresting all 15 buyers, including foreign nationals, who were scattered across the country.
The Rush they attempted to smuggle is also known as Poppers. It contains isobutyl nitrite, which can cause loss of consciousness, low blood pressure, and dizziness when inhaled. It was upgraded to a Class 1 temporary controlled drug designation in November last year.
Yoo Young-han, head of Busan Headquarters Customs, emphasized, "We will continue to track not only simple buyers but also every stage of the transactions and dismantle overseas supply lines. We will also actively pursue measures to curb demand for controlled drugs itself."
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter