International Drug Organization's Large-Scale Smuggling Attempt of Etomidate Foiled

The National Intelligence Service's International Crime Information Center (TCIC) has achieved a significant result by apprehending an international drug organization attempting to smuggle the new drug 'etomidate' into the Republic of Korea on a large scale overseas.

On the 19th of last month, the NIS announced that they, in cooperation with local authorities, arrested four individuals, including the leader of the drug organization, in Malaysia.

According to information released by the NIS on the 8th, this organization was manufacturing liquid-type electronic cigarettes mixed with etomidate and cocaine at transit locations, such as Malaysia, intending to smuggle 20,000 units each month into Korea—enough for approximately 2 million people to use simultaneously. This was a large-scale distribution plan targeting the domestic drug market.

Liquid-type electronic cigarette mixed with etomidate and cocaine.

Sophisticated Smuggling Methods and Seizures by the Drug Organization

During the apprehension process, the NIS and local law enforcement seized 4,958 cartridges of synthetic drugs capable of simultaneous use by 500,000 individuals (9.42 liters), valued at approximately 2.3 billion won.

In addition, over 3,000 paper boxes for electronic cigarette packaging were also confiscated. The authorities particularly noted the circumstances indicating a mixing of cocaine with etomidate to maximize the drug's hallucinogenic effects and addictive qualities and are investigating the exact details.

This incident is a realization of the warning issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime last May. At that time, the UN warned that electronic cigarette-form etomidate, with unknown ingredients and concentrations, was spreading, primarily in Southeast Asian countries, and that cases of its mixture with other synthetic drug components, such as ketamine, had also been discovered.

Etomidate, known in the Republic of Korea through the so-called 'Rolls-Royce Man' incident in 2023, is an anesthetic that requires a doctor's prescription but is not classified as a narcotic unlike propofol. Notably, illegally manufactured etomidate is a dangerous substance that can lead to death due to its unclear ingredients and concentrations.

Proactive Drug Suppression Operations Through International Cooperation

The NIS has been closely monitoring the potential domestic entry of international drug organizations as Thailand and Hong Kong have intensified their crackdowns on etomidate. In this process, they identified 'Ivan (31)', a Singaporean leader who frequently traveled to Korea since 2023, as a key suspect.

This leader disguised himself as a businessman by establishing a headhunting firm in Gangnam, Seoul. He reportedly approached Korean students with experiences studying in Singapore, introducing etomidate as a "drug that does not get caught by investigative agencies," and secretly built a domestic distribution network.

The NIS judged that the inflow of etomidate electronic cigarettes into the Republic of Korea, where the use of electronic cigarettes has become commonplace, would pose a serious threat to public health and safety. Consequently, they dispatched international crime personnel to Malaysia, a drug transit point, to collaborate with local authorities.

Based on key information provided by the NIS about the identities of the drug organization members and their methods, Malaysian authorities successfully apprehended four members, including the leader.

The NIS assessed this operation as "the first case of proactively neutralizing an international drug cartel attempting to smuggle a new drug, which is in a legal gray area, into the country on a large scale."

Furthermore, they emphasized that they will carry out international crime early warning activities unswervingly to protect the safety and lives of the public, a top priority of the new government.

Image source: CCTV footage of 31-year-old Singaporean 'Ivan', the leader of the international drug organization, upon his entry into Korea. / Evidence of drug transactions presented during a briefing by the NIS and Malaysian local authorities. / Materials for illustrative purposes provided by the NIS. / gettyimagesbank