Foreigner who opened an "illegal pharmacy" in an apartment ... sells medicines at 15% higher than actual = Korean coverage

A group was arrested by the police for opening an unauthorized pharmacy in an apartment building and selling pharmaceuticals to illegal residents and other foreigners at prices higher than the market price.

On January 9th, the Gyeongsangnam-do National Police Agency's Regional Investigation Team's International Criminal Investigation Section arrested Thai suspect A in his 20s on suspicion of selling drugs illegally online (violating the Pharmacists Act). It announced that 12 pharmacists and brokers who supplied the drug were indictment without detention.

From April 2021 to July 2022, Suspect A opened an unregistered pharmacy in a condominium in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, and used SNS to serve foreigners living in South Korea. He is accused of selling drugs illegally.

The suspects took advantage of the fact that it is difficult for foreigners who have difficulty communicating with illegal immigrants to receive treatment and purchase medicines at hospitals and pharmacies.

Suspect A had about 100 types of medicines on display, including general medicines such as cold medicines and digestive medicines, as well as specialty medicines that required a doctor's prescription. In addition, they advertised on Internet blogs and SNS, etc., and took a method of sending medicines by home delivery after confirming payment.

Suspect A purchased medicines through general pharmacies and brokers, and sold them at prices that were 10% to 15% higher than market prices.

Police have seized 7,465 drugs and plan to expand their investigation into drugs illegally distributed among foreigners in the country.

“Purchasing medicines online without a doctor’s prescription and pharmacist’s guidance is a very dangerous act,” said a police source.