Another batch of illicit drugs disguised as tea packets has been discovered along the coast of Jeju.

At around 8:30 a.m. yesterday (September 17), a marine environment keeper conducting a cleanup activity at Gwangchigi Beach in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo, discovered drugs wrapped in silver tea packaging and reported it to the Coast Guard.

A preliminary reagent test conducted by the Coast Guard on the contents returned a positive reaction for ketamine.

At the time of discovery, the packaging was faded in color and partially torn.

It is presumed to have drifted along ocean currents for a considerable period before washing ashore.

Tea packets containing ketamine have been found in succession along Jeju's coast since September of last year.

This latest find marks the 23rd case, bringing the total weight of narcotics discovered in tea packets to date to approximately 40 kg.

The Coast Guard believes there is a high possibility that this is related to a large-scale drug loss incident that occurred in the waters off Taiwan in July of last year.

Weight is being given to the possibility that the drugs lost at time were carried by ocean currents and flowed into the coastal areas of Jeju.

(Photo courtesy of Jeju Regional Coast Guard)