Seoul: The government successfully rounded up 23,403 drug offenders last year as part of special crackdowns, marking a significant achievement in its ongoing battle against drug-related crimes. Reports indicate that the number of online drug offenders arrested and the quantity of drugs seized have reached unprecedented levels since President Lee Jae Myung took office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the prosecution booked 765 drug offenders and formally arrested 217 of them between June last year and March of this year. During this period, they seized 1,042 kilograms of drugs. These efforts were highlighted in a release by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, which detailed the achievements in drug control during the first year of President Lee's administration.

The police played a crucial role by apprehending 5,385 offenders through special teams dedicated to combating drug crimes between June last year and April this year. Furthermore, they rounded up 12,774 individuals through focused crackdowns on new drug types and drugs intended for medical use.

The customs agency contributed significantly to the efforts by detecting 3,233 kilograms of drugs at the border in 1,181 cases over the 10 months since President Lee's inauguration. This seizure represents an all-time high and a 307 percent increase from the same period last year.

Additionally, the Coast Guard's intensive crackdowns, which included hull inspections using underwater drones, led to the apprehension of 129 offenders and the confiscation of 29,121 poppy plants. The food and drug administration also uncovered 44 cases of drug abuse for medical purposes, including incidents involving propofol.