2024-01-17 16:04:30
The Korea Customs Service announced on the 17th that the number of drugs detected by customs last year was 769.3 kg, a 23% increase from a year ago (624.4 kg). While drug smuggling from Thailand and the United States accounted for the highest proportion, the amount of smuggling through travelers increased four-fold.
Drugs in coffee bean packaging detected by customs/Korea Customs Service Drugs found in coffee bean packaging found by customs/Korea Customs Service
The number of drugs caught increased sharply from 148 kg in 2020 to 1,272 kg in 2021, decreased in 2022, and then increased once more last year. The Korea Customs Service said, “Except for the one-off factor of large quantities of methamphetamine (402.8 kg) from Mexico and cocaine (400.4 kg) from Peru being seized in 2021, the weight of seizures is increasing overall.” However, the number of drug detections last year was 704, a 9% decrease from 2022 (771 cases).
Among the methods of importing drugs, international mail accounted for the largest proportion. Last year, 327 kg (328 cases) were caught, accounting for 43% of the total. This was followed by express cargo (36%) and travelers (19%). Recently, cases of travelers attempting to smuggle goods into the country have been rapidly increasing. The weight of drugs smuggled by travelers caught by customs last year was 148.1 kg, four times that of the previous year (36.2 kg). The Korea Customs Service said, “Drug smuggling through travelers is rapidly increasing following the transition to the coronavirus pandemic.” Among the cases of drug smuggling last year revealed by the Korea Customs Service on this day, there was one case where a traveler was caught trying to secretly hide drugs in condoms, coffee product packaging, etc.
Drugs in condoms detected by Incheon Customs in December last year./Korea Customs Service
By country, the most drug smuggling occurred in the following order: Thailand (187.4 kg, 101 cases), the United States (151.9 kg, 213 cases), and Germany (93.7 kg, 44 cases). In particular, the weight of drug smuggling in Germany and Malaysia (47 kg, 20 cases) increased 6.2 and 4.6 times, respectively, compared to the previous year.
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