S. Korea to tighten export controls on banned chemicals

SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will strengthen controls over exports of
chemicals that can be used to make narcotics, in line with a global effort to
prevent the flow of such substances, health authorities said Tuesday.
The move comes after illegal drug manufacturers were found to have bought
substances from South Korea or used the country as a way station, the Korea Food
and Drug Administration (KFDA) said. Such chemicals include acetone, acetic
anhydride, toluene, and hydrochloric and sulfuric acids, it added.
"Overall distribution and export control will be tightened for 24 chemicals that
can be utilized to make psychotropic drugs," an administration official said.
South Korea is widely recognized as a "clean" region in terms of illegal dug
manufacturing and use, with customs officials generally not checking shipments
for banned substances if they are sent from the country.
KFDA said it detected 155.6 tons worth of chemicals that can be used to make
psychotropic drugs destined for Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan last year. The
shipments caught did not have proper import authorization papers issued by the
respective governments.
Roughly 50 percent of all heroine confiscated in the world originates out of the
mountainous regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are notorious as bases for
the manufacture of illegal drugs.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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