Large-Scale Drug Smuggling, '2 Cases and 1.8kg Per Day' Detected Early This Year

In the trend of drug smuggling crackdowns, the number of cases detected is decreasing while the weight is increasing, showing a clear trend of 'larger scale.' The amount of drug smuggling seized by customs authorities earlier this year was recorded as the largest ever. The Korea Customs Service plans to strengthen drug smuggling crackdowns due to the critical importance of border security.

◆ An average of 2 cases and 1.8 kg of drug smuggling detected daily = According to the Korea Customs Service on the 18th, from January to April, 205 attempts of drug smuggling were detected nationwide at customs.

The total weight of drugs seized during this period was 213 kg. This means that on average, 2 cases and 1.8 kg of drugs were caught trying to cross the border daily by customs authorities. The 1.8 kg of drugs is enough for about 60,000 people to use simultaneously.

It is noteworthy that the weight seized per case in drug smuggling crackdowns is gradually increasing. Over the past three years, the 'weight seized per case' showed a trend of becoming larger: 213 g in 2020, 446 g in 2021, and 810 g in 2022.

Especially, from January to April this year, the weight seized per case was 1,039 g, marking the highest ever (based on January to April of each year). This is an increase of 394 g compared to 645 g in the same period last year.

Provided by Korea Customs Service

Conversely, when comparing the number of drug smuggling cases detected from January to April last year and this year, it decreased from 250 cases to 205 cases. However, the number of drug smuggling cases detected fluctuated from 696 cases in 2020, 1,054 cases in 2021, to 771 cases in 2022.

The Korea Customs Service cites the increase in the weight of drugs seized as due to the growing number of domestic drug users and the relatively higher supply price of drugs in Korea compared to other countries, which increases the incentive for overseas suppliers to smuggle.

For example, the transaction price per gram of Philopon is reported to be $450 in Korea, $44 in the United States, and $13 in Thailand.

The Korea Customs Service identifies that drugs are mainly smuggled into the country through international mail (54%), travelers (23%), express cargo (19%), and general cargo (4%) from countries such as Thailand, the United States, Vietnam, and China.

Also, the proportion of drugs seized in crackdowns is largest in the order of Philopon (41%), marijuana (22%), new synthetic marijuana (8%), and new drug MDMA (3%).

Provided by Korea Customs Service

◆ The critical importance of border protection = “If there is a loophole in drug smuggling crackdowns at the border stage, it becomes difficult to detect drugs at the domestic distribution stage even with tenfold or twentyfold efforts,” said Yoon Tae-sik, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, at the 'National Customs Drug Investigators Meeting' on the 18th.

At this meeting, Commissioner Yoon emphasized, “The role of the Korea Customs Service, which is responsible for the border, is extremely important,” and urged, “To eradicate drug smuggling from the border stage, the Korea Customs Service must take on infinite responsibility and wage war against drugs with the determination of ‘breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats (破釜沈舟).’”

The meeting was attended by 27 drug investigators from seven customs offices nationwide, which oversee major drug smuggling routes, to analyze recent domestic drug smuggling detection trends and characteristics and discuss key future drug smuggling crackdown measures.

Earlier, in February, the Korea Customs Service declared this year as the inaugural year of the 'War on Drugs' and announced plans to implement 12 tasks across four major areas based on fundamentally strengthening the crackdown infrastructure such as manpower, organization, and equipment: establishing a constant drug smuggling crackdown system, shifting the customs inspection system to focus on blocking illegal items including drugs, building close cooperation systems with domestic and international related agencies and the private sector.

The four major areas announced by the Korea Customs Service at that time are strengthening customs inspections, expanding crackdown infrastructure, activating domestic and international cooperation, and enhancing investigative capabilities.

Among these, strengthening customs inspections is the first gateway to fundamentally blocking drug smuggling at the border stage. Currently, the Korea Customs Service is intensifying crackdowns by distinguishing international mail, express shipments, air travelers, and general import cargo.

Additionally, the Risk Management Center has been designated as the control tower to share suspicious information in real time with domestic and international related agencies and to strengthen big data analysis.

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