▲ Overview of the "Ma Seok-do" Distribution Ring's Crimes
A ringleader in his 20s and his accomplices who distributed billions of won worth of illicit drugs while operating a Telegram drug sales channel named "Ma Seok-do"—inspired by the protagonist of the film "The Outlaws"—have been put on trial.
The Government-Wide Joint Investigation Headquarters for Drug Crimes announced on the 11th that it has formally indicted and detained two individuals, including a 24-year-old surnamed A, who served as the primary leader of the Telegram drug channel "Ma Seok-do," and a 22-year-old surnamed B, who acted as a manager, on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (phytotropic substances) and organizing and engaging in a criminal organization.
A and his accomplices are accused of distributing approximately 3.1 kilograms of philopon (methamphetamine), 1.8 kilograms of ketamine, and 2,682 MDMA (ecstasy) pills—worth 2.6 billion won at retail value—nationwide while operating "Ma Seok-do," which grew to 3,318 members from 2022 until recently.
Investigations revealed that they exploited the anonymity of Telegram to operate a large-scale cellular syndicate with divided roles covering drug supply, distribution, promotion, and money laundering.
They hired promotional agents to run advertisements across multiple drug promotion channels to attract buyers, and expanded their influence by partnering with other major drug dealers to fix prices or share inventory.
Notably, they were found to have employed nearly 20 couriers and even established a separate training system to ensure the couriers could deliver drugs reliably.
Criminal proceeds were meticulously laundered using cryptocurrencies.
Investigations showed that they evaded tracking by accepting payments in Bitcoin from buyers using multiple cryptocurrency wallets, converting them into other coins to distribute among organization members, and cashing them out through proxy agents.
An analysis of A's gang cryptocurrency wallets revealed that they traded 5.8 billion won in drug proceeds across 4,642 transactions over the past two years.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters has identified approximately 1.7 billion won of this sum as criminal proceeds, secured a preservation order for seizure, and is pursuing procedures to confiscate luxury foreign vehicles driven by the suspects.
This achievement is evaluated as the result of close cooperation between prosecutors and police since the launch of the Joint Investigation Headquarters.
The Joint Investigation Headquarters uncovered the full scale of the organization by integrating and analyzing scattered investigative information while apprehending the couriers individually.
An official from the Joint Investigation Headquarters stated, "We have currently identified about 10 overseas kingpins of major drug distribution rings operating in South Korea and are preparing for their repatriation," adding, "We will eradicate domestic drug distribution through close cooperation among relevant agencies."
(Photo provided by the Government-Wide Joint Investigation Headquarters, Yonhap News)
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