Arrested but 50+ Days Later… "Police Investigation Cannot Keep Up with Drugs"

A man in his 30s, referred to on SNS as the 'Suwon drug zombie,' was apprehended by police at the scene, yet more than 50 days have passed without determining whether he used drugs at that time, raising questions about whether the police investigation system can keep up with drugs currently circulating in the market.

According to the Suwon Gwonseon Police Station and others on the 18th, a detailed hair analysis of a man in his 30s identified as A, who is suspected of violating the Narcotics Control Act, came back positive for drugs.

A is the person featured in a video that spread via SNS on June 21. His appearance—with a hunched back, arms hanging down, and standing for extended periods—drew comparisons to a 'zombie,' raising suspicions of drug use.

Police located A at the time and conducted a quick reagent test, which tested positive for methamphetamine, leading to an emergency arrest. However, a preliminary analysis by the National Forensic Service showed no drug traces, and A was released. A subsequent detailed urine analysis also returned a negative result for drugs.

Police continued the investigation and conducted a detailed analysis of A's hair. They also executed a search warrant on his residence and other locations early this month to confirm drug use through mobile phone digital forensics and other means.

However, according to police, the hair analysis results alone cannot be considered proof that A used drugs on June 21.

A police official stated, "In the case of urine tests, it becomes difficult to confirm drug use after about a week," and added, "Hair analysis typically examines about one year's worth of hair, so whether A used drugs on June 21 specifically must be confirmed through additional investigation."

According to police, A has been visiting a hospital once a month recently and has been prescribed sedatives and other medications. The prescribed drugs contain psychotropic components as well as sleeping pills and sleep-inducing agents, so police are investigating the circumstances of use by component type found in the hair and whether they were prescribed.

More than 50 days have passed since June 21, when the investigation began, but police have yet to determine whether A's abnormal behavior at that time was due to drug use.

Against a backdrop of rapidly spreading new drugs, there are calls pointing out that the police investigation system is not keeping pace with the times.

Lee Su-jeong, professor of criminal psychology at Kyonggi University, stated, "As new types of drugs emerge, there are cases where drugs cannot be extracted using traditional methods," and added, "With rapidly absorbed drugs, detection may not occur in urine and extraction may require hair analysis or detailed testing."

He continued, "This case suggests that police are not yet prepared to respond to these new drugs," and pointed out, "It seems a dedicated task force or forensic science team related to drugs should be operated separately."

Police plan to summon A on the 20th to investigate the circumstances of use for the components found in his hair, whether they were prescribed, and whether he used drugs on June 21.