The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) in South Korea announced on January 16 its plan to introduce advanced analytical equipment to combat emerging drugs. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) in South Korea announced on January 16 its plan to introduce advanced analytical equipment to combat emerging drugs that have been circulating primarily through social media (SNS).
According to the ministry, 24.7% of the drugs detected in the first half of last year were classified as new types of drugs.
These new drugs mainly include synthetic cannabis and synthetic opioids like fentanyl, commonly known as ‘zombie drugs.’ Due to their extremely low dosage and the resulting low residual amounts in the body, these new drugs have been challenging to detect with the current high-sensitivity mass spectrometers.
This year, the MOIS is investing 2.84 billion won to bring in four pieces of state-of-the-art equipment. This includes two high-resolution mass spectrometers and two ultra-high-sensitivity mass spectrometers.
The ultra-high-sensitivity mass spectrometers boast a sensitivity approximately ten times higher than the equipment currently used by the National Forensic Service, making them capable of detecting even trace amounts of substances that were previously undetectable.
The high-resolution mass spectrometers will provide clearer images for the identification of new drug compounds, compared to existing equipment.
The MOIS expects that the introduction of this advanced analytical equipment will improve the detection of new drugs, contributing not only to investigations but also to the early interruption of their domestic distribution.
The National Forensic Service plans to develop a ‘New Drug Detection Platform’ utilizing this equipment to strengthen the search and blockage of new drug types.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min emphasized the government’s commitment: “We will do our utmost to alleviate the public’s anxiety caused by drugs and to create a safe South Korea. We will actively respond to new types of drugs using advanced equipment.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
