Blocking "Cross-Border Drug Trafficking"... Law Enforcement Agencies from 24 Countries Gather in Seoul

Korean National Police Agency to Host 14th International Conference on Narcotics
Topics Include Undercover Investigations and Responses to New Drugs and Criminal Methods

Drug investigation agencies and international organizations from around the world will gather in Seoul to tackle cross-border drug crimes. They are expected to discuss ways to strengthen international cooperation in response to increasingly sophisticated criminal methods, including the use of encrypted messaging apps and virtual assets. They will also share advanced practices in undercover investigations, which are set to be introduced next year.

Hong Seok-gi, chief of the National Office of Investigation at the Korean National Police Agency, delivers opening remarks at the International Conference on Narcotics (ICON), held at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Korean National Police Agency

The Korean National Police Agency said it will host the International Conference on Narcotics (ICON) at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on November 12 and 13. The agency has held the conference since 2010 to share information on drug crimes with investigative agencies around the world and promote joint investigations. The event, now in its 14th year, is expected to bring together representatives from five international organizations, including Interpol, ASEANAPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Narcotics Control Board and the European Union Drugs Agency, as well as drug law enforcement agencies from 24 countries and more than 170 experts from Korea and abroad.

This year's slogan is "Across Borders, Combating Drugs," expressing a commitment to protecting future generations from drugs. The conference will focus on discussing investigative techniques and cases to address rapidly evolving drug crimes and exploring practical ways for countries to cooperate. One example underscoring the importance of international cooperation is the government's repatriation to Korea in March 2026 of Park Wangyeol, a drug kingpin who used Telegram, following talks with Philippine authorities, as well as its arrest in Thailand of Choi Byungmin, who had supplied drugs to Park.

The conference will cover four topics: undercover investigations into drug crimes; new challenges such as e-cigarettes containing narcotics, new types of drugs and rising drug abuse among young people; drug crimes involving encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram and the tracing and recovery of illicit proceeds in virtual assets; and securing evidence and maintaining its admissibility in joint investigations into transnational drug crimes.

The Korean National Police Agency expects this year's conference to be an important turning point, as it plans to introduce undercover investigations next year and establish an Interpol drug response center in Korea. The agency plans to pursue the signing of a letter of intent to establish the center at Interpol's General Assembly in Hong Kong next month, with the goal of opening it at the 2029 General Assembly in Seoul.

Hong Seokgi, chief of the National Investigation Headquarters, said, "As drug crimes spread across borders and become increasingly sophisticated, countries and agencies must share investigative experience and expertise and strengthen international cooperation based on close collaboration. I hope this event will provide an opportunity to explore effective measures."

Ajay Patel, deputy director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Asia-Pacific division, said, "As significant changes have taken place in Korea's criminal justice system this year, I hope countries will share their experiences and deepen their solidarity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.