Three elderly South Korean gamblers are accused of drugging their golf opponent’s coffee with sleeping pills to impair his performance, and then collecting 75 million won (around $52,000) in bets after he lost the match.
The Three Suspects Allegedly Planned the Scam for Months
According to Seoul’s Namdaemun Police, the three suspects, aged in their 60s and 70s, allegedly spent months earning the victim’s trust by intentionally losing previous bets. Finally, in July, the trio arranged a high-stakes match at a golf course in Gyeonggi Province, near Seoul.
Police explained that each of the three suspects played a distinct role in the scheme. One recruited the victim and procured the drugs, another added the substance to his coffee and managed the payments, while the third acted as a lookout. According to MBC, the group first made contact with the golfer in May and played several matches together, deliberately letting him win some bets while gradually raising the stakes.
Police said surveillance footage from the golf course captured the suspects tampering with the coffee, keeping watch at the entrance and passing the drink to their opponent. Later tests of the victim’s urine and hair samples revealed the presence of psychotropic substances. Investigators also reviewed prescription records and consulted medical experts, confirming that the substances had not been prescribed to him for legitimate medical purposes.
What Happened on the Day?
The trap sprang on July 30. The suspects allegedly carried out the plot just before the game, when their target briefly stepped away to use the restroom. While one kept watch at the entrance, another tampered with a disposable coffee cup, adding a drug they had prepared in advance.
After drinking the coffee, the victim went on to play two rounds, covering 36 holes, despite experiencing impaired motor skills and judgment, investigators said. According to MBC, the substance contained a sedative capable of causing temporary memory loss.
Following the game, the trio allegedly informed the victim that he had lost the bet and demanded payment at a restaurant. Police said he subsequently transferred 75 million won (about $52,000) to a bank account controlled by the suspects. Investigators further allege that the suspect who prepared the drugged coffee collected and laundered the winnings before splitting the proceeds among the three men.
One of the suspects, a man in his 60s, remains in detention, while the other two were referred to prosecutors without being held in custody.
According to The Korea Herald, a police official warned that the case highlighted how drug-related crime had infiltrated everyday leisure activities and public spaces. The official added that authorities would take a firm stance against offenses that threaten public safety and devote all available investigative resources to combating drug-related crime.
In other news from South Korea, authorities busted a huge illegal gambling network in the country, worth over $17 billion, resulting in dozens of arrests.