The illegal sales of fentanyl have surged dramatically in South Korea, causing significant concern among both authorities and the public. According to data from Rep. Kim Yoon of the Democratic Party, there have been 202 online cases of illegal fentanyl sales detected by June 27 this year, which is 3.2 times higher than the 62 cases reported throughout all of last year. This potent opioid, despite its medical use as a powerful painkiller, is highly addictive and dangerous even in small amounts. Authorities are particularly worried as some teenagers have been receiving prescriptions for fentanyl patches, with 383 individuals aged 19 or younger prescribed these patches last year.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been actively working to combat the illegal distribution of narcotics like fentanyl on platforms such as Telegram and the dark web. Cha Gyu-han, Director of the drug safety planning division, emphasised the essential medical uses of narcotics but also highlighted the challenges in enforcement due to the clandestine nature of online transactions. Despite efforts to block offending sites, there is often a significant delay before action is taken. Rep. Kim has called for more efficient measures, suggesting the need for an improved system to allow immediate action upon detecting illegal online sales.

Source: Asia News Network