Seoul police report 7.3 pct jump in drug-related cases

SEOUL, July 3 (Yonhap) -- A total of 855 people were prosecuted in Seoul on
drug-related charges during the first half of this year, up 7.3 percent from the
same period in 2008, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Friday.

Psychoactive drugs such as Ecstasy accounted for 56 percent of the cases, with a
growing number of "ordinary people" including white-collar workers being arrested
on drug use and transportation charges, police said.
Police said 322 people were charged for drug trafficking.
Investigators plan to tighten their crackdown on drug crimes from July through
August, months when the number of overseas travelers increases during the summer
vacation period.
The total number of drug crime convictions nationwide surpassed 10,000 for the
first time in 2007, largely due to growing demand from locals as well as foreign
nationals here. The number of people arrested on drug smuggling charges saw a
huge spike that year, up eight-fold from 2003.
The majority of drug users in South Korea are in their 20s and 30s, but recent
polls show the age is dropping, with more teenagers being apprehended by police
on drug charges.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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