Seoul: The amount of so-called club drugs seized in South Korea has increased more than sevenfold over the past five years, customs authorities said Tuesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 115.9 kilograms of illegal substances, such as marijuana and ketamine, commonly used in nightclubs and other entertainment venues, were confiscated from January to September of this year. This marks a significant rise from the 15.8 kilograms seized in 2021, as reported by the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

The volume of drugs seized this year is estimated to be enough to supply 2.32 million people simultaneously. Despite a decrease in the total number of seizures from 215 cases to 116 cases over the cited period, the incidence of large-scale smuggling involving more than 1 kilogram has increased, the agency noted.

Among the confiscated drugs, ketamine has shown the most substantial rise, with the amount seized surging from 5.9 kilograms in 2021 to 101.9 kilograms this year. Authorities indicated that global drug trafficking organizations appear to be targeting South Korea as a new market for ketamine smuggling.

Lee Myeong-ku, a KCS chief, emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating, "Smuggling of club drugs is a serious crime that targets the young generation, who are responsible for our future." He pledged to use all available resources to prevent drug smuggling at the border.