DRUG ARRESTS JUMP 13.4% IN FIRST HALF OF YEAR TO 9,618

The number of people arrested for allegedly using amphetamines in the first
six months of this year stood at 9,618, an increase of 1,140, or 13.4
percent, from the same period last year, a survey by the National Police
Agency showed Friday.

The rate of increase surpassed the 8.3 percent rise for the whole of 1999
over 1998, according to the survey.

Of those who were investigated on suspicion of violating the Stimulant
Drugs Control Law, 609 were minors and 220 were foreigners, mainly Iranians
involved in drug smuggling, according to the survey.

The number of youths held over use or possession of amphetamines rose 45
percent from the corresponding period last year.

The NPA said that reports from citizens not related to crime organizations
and suspects themselves have soared and that an increasing number of people
now use stimulant drugs bought on the street.

About 571.7 kg of stimulant drugs were seized in the first half of this
year, down from 1,154.6 kg confiscated in the same period last year, but
the figure exceeded the 549 kg haul for the whole of 1998, the NPA said.

NPA officials attributed the rise to the lower street value of amphetamines
and the increase in the stimulant drug trade via the Internet and cellular
phones.