Coast Guard Headquarters Conducts Special Crackdown on Illegal Maritime Export of Quarantine Supplies Including Masks

Crackdown on Smuggling of Processed Products from Wild Animals Suspected as Hosts of Novel Coronavirus

On the 6th, when export procedures were strengthened to block the mass export of masks and hand sanitizers, customs officers at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 checked the quantity of masks in the bags of departing passengers. 2020.2.6 / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Korea Coast Guard is launching a special crackdown on acts that disrupt the national economic order and illegally export quarantine supplies via maritime routes, taking advantage of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia).

The Coast Guard plans to focus on cracking down on hoarding of domestic masks, hand sanitizers, and other personal quarantine supplies followed by their export overseas via maritime routes, as well as the smuggling of processed goods made from wild animals suspected to be virus hosts.

In particular, the illegal export of personal quarantine supplies such as masks will target crimes committed by professional intermediaries closely connected domestically and internationally, aiming to fundamentally block acts that disrupt the market economy order.

The Coast Guard will organize special crackdown teams by regional offices to collect related intelligence and strengthen maritime quarantine networks in cooperation with related agencies such as the Korea Customs Service and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

A Coast Guard official stated, "Recently, crimes that disrupt the fair market economy have been secretly occurring, taking advantage of the increased demand for quarantine supplies such as masks," adding, "We will completely block crimes occurring at sea related to the spread of the novel coronavirus."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.