South Korean Court Sentences Pair for Using Cryptocurrency in Drug Trafficking
Two individuals in South Korea have been sentenced for using cryptocurrency in drug trafficking, as the country’s legal system continues to crack down on crimes involving Bitcoin and other digital currencies.
According to a report by News1, the Namyangju Criminal Division of the Uijeongbu District Court found a 31-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman guilty of violating the Narcotics Control Act.
The presiding judge, Ahn Bok-yeol, handed down identical sentences to both individuals. They were each sentenced to eight months in jail, along with two years of probation. Additionally, the judge ordered them to attend 40 hours of drug rehabilitation and treatment classes.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that the pair had used an unnamed cryptocurrency to pay a drug dealer in a transaction facilitated through the Telegram chat app. The dealer had hidden vials of synthetic marijuana in a secret location in April of the previous year and contacted the duo to inform them of the hiding spot, which was located in the outdoor unit of an air conditioner in a public building in Seoul.
To evade police detection, the transactions were carried out using virtual currency.
Judge Ahn emphasized that cryptocurrency has become the preferred form of payment for drug dealers but stated that the court had shown leniency in its ruling.
Despite the government’s efforts to combat crypto-fueled drug crime in South Korea, reports indicate that dealers are still promoting their services online without fear of repercussions. Cryptonews.com discovered numerous posts and Telegram channels advertising nationwide drug delivery services in South Korea, with many providing details of crypto wallet addresses and accepting payments in tokens like BTC and USDT.
Telegram has been described as a popular platform for young South Koreans, with Bitcoin and other digital currencies being their preferred method of payment.
