South Korean authorities announced Wednesday that they had detected a previously unknown synthetic drug in a parcel from France, according to the country’s customs agency. The newly identified compound, 4-Benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine, bears similarities to mescaline, a psychedelic drug often associated with recreational use, Yonhap news agency reported.
A chemical structure analysis confirmed that this substance is a newly discovered synthetic drug, marking its first-ever identification worldwide. The agency emphasized the significance of this finding in monitoring emerging drug threats.
Mescaline, the substance it resembles, is known for its powerful hallucinogenic effects, influencing perception, emotions, and the sense of time, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia. Authorities are now investigating the origins and intended distribution of the seized compound.
