A deputy leader of a drug trafficking network that imported narcotics from overseas and sold them via Telegram faces an additional prison sentence after new crimes emerged while serving time.
Court Imposes Extended Sentence
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 sentenced the suspect, referred to as A, to three years and six months in prison on charges of aggravated violations of the Act on Aggravated Punishment for Specific Economic Crimes involving stimulants.
Previous Conviction and New Evidence
A previously received a five-year sentence in April of last year for purchasing 2,000 ecstasy pills from overseas vendors between August and September 2023 and smuggling 526 of them into the country. Investigators uncovered further offenses: A acquired approximately 1,230 more pills from the same suppliers between December 2023 and January 2024, imported them domestically, and handled 460 milliliters of synthetic marijuana.
Judicial Reasoning
The court highlighted the substantial volume of drugs, repeated offenses, and sophisticated methods, deeming the minimum term appropriate. “Drug crimes threaten public health and lead addicts to additional offenses, warranting strict enforcement across society,” the bench stated. However, it adjusted for proportionality with the prior confirmed sentence.
