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Your Initial Response Determines Your Future

“We’d like you to come in as a witness for a brief statement.” These words from the police are never just a formality in drug-related cases. In the realm of narcotics investigations, a "witness interview" is often the final bridge before officially designating someone as a suspect.
 

1. The Reality of Being Contacted as a 'Drug Courier'

If the police have reached out to you, it likely means you have already been identified through digital forensics, bank statements, or delivery invoices.

• The Turning Point: A single statement during your interview can instantly flip your status from a witness to a suspect.

• The Trap of 'Willful Blindness': Simply claiming "I didn't know" is rarely enough. Authorities will aggressively look for evidence of mens rea (criminal intent)—the idea that you should have suspected something was illegal.

• Risk of Emergency Arrest: While strictly regulated, if contradictions are found in your initial statement or if there is a perceived risk of destroying evidence, you could face an emergency arrest on the spot.
   

2. Why You Must Never Attend an Interview Alone

Drug crimes carry significantly higher penalties than general criminal cases. Even for first-time offenders, the likelihood of imprisonment is high.

• Severe Penalties:

  • Narcotics Control Act (Article 60): Transporting psychotropic drugs can lead to up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to 100 million KRW.

  • Act on Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (Article 11): If the act was committed for profit, the penalty increases to life imprisonment or a minimum of 5 years.

• Admissibility of Statements: Phrases like "I don't recall clearly" are often documented as an "attempt to conceal the crime," becoming powerful evidence for conviction in court.

• The Danger of Accomplice Testimony: Narcotics rings often shift the blame onto couriers to protect higher-ups. Without a lawyer, it is nearly impossible to challenge the credibility of these conflicting testimonies.

3. [Checklist] 5 Things to Organize Before Your Interview

Before stepping into a police station, you must review the facts based on objective evidence (messages, call logs, etc.):

4. Immediate Actions to Take

Deleting evidence or avoiding contact is the worst decision you can make. You must consult an expert attorney immediately to:

1. Legal Diagnosis: Determine your current status and the actual risk of arrest.

2. Statement Strategy: Design the most favorable scenario—whether to confess, deny, or partially admit.

3. Exercising Rights: Strategically use your Right to Remain Silent to block unfavorable questioning.

4. Counsel Attendance: Your lawyer will accompany you to the interview to prevent coercive questioning and review the official records in real-time.
    

5. Decent Law Firm’s Criminal Defense System

In drug cases, speed and expertise are everything. Decent Law Firm operates a dedicated defense system to protect our clients' lives.

• In-depth Fact Analysis: We review all digital records before the interview to anticipate the prosecution’s strategy.

• Blocking Illegally Obtained Evidence: We aggressively challenge any procedural violations (e.g., coercive interrogation or illegal search and seizure).

• Proactive Mitigation: We prepare "sentencing factors" (e.g., letters of remorse, rehabilitation efforts) from the very beginning to minimize potential penalties.
   

[Disclaimer] This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique and requires a direct consultation with a qualified attorney.

Have you been contacted by the police? Whether your situation is viewed as a 'simple errand' or 'criminal conspiracy' depends entirely on your first interview. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Would you like to schedule an English-speaking consultation or receive a preliminary assessment of your case?