Officials arrested in early July for drug trafficking in Hamhung face intense public scrutiny over their potential punishments, Daily NK has learned.
Speaking anonymously, a Daily NK source in South Hamgyong province said Monday that a man in his 30s named Choe had long sold methamphetamine as an “8.3 profession,” which involves paying his official workplace to be exempt from showing up.
In late March, someone reported Choe to the city police on suspicion of dealing methamphetamine. During their investigation, police discovered Choe’s customers included some high-profile individuals.
After a three-month sting, nine people were arrested on drug-related charges, including two city party committee officials, one district party committee official and one district police officer. They are currently undergoing preliminary examinations.
Choe testified to dealing methamphetamine for over ten years, evading detection by running a clothing business as a cover.
“Rather than Choe’s arrest, people are more interested in whether the officials are convicted and how severely they are punished,” the source said. While many believe Choe will receive the death penalty and officials might escape punishment, the case’s high profile suggests it won’t be easily dismissed.
Corruption common among upholders of drug laws
Meanwhile, South Hamgyong province’s party committee held lectures calling for “severe legal judgment.” The source noted that at Saturday lectures for provincial-level officials on July 20 and Aug. 3, “ideological indoctrination materials named the arrested officials and warned that ‘they would never be forgiven for taking methamphetamine used by human trash.’”
Methamphetamine began spreading in North Korea after the mid-1990s economic collapse, initially from major pharmaceutical factories. It quickly spread to the general population in the mid-2000s as manufacturing knowledge increased. Despite intensified punishments, including a 2021 drug crime prevention law, the problem persists, often led by officials tasked with prevention.
“Donju who deal drugs usually work alongside officials. The state clamors about principles, but officials don’t keep those principles,” the source said, referring to North Korea’s wealthy entrepreneurial class. “If it weren’t so bad, people probably wouldn’t say that officials have to deal in drugs, prostitution, bribery and other things the state forbids to gain recognition for their competency.”
Daily NK works with a network of sources in North Korea, China, and elsewhere. For security reasons, their identities remain anonymous.
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August 23, 2024 at 06:00AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)