[2025 Audit] Blacklisted Passengers from Cambodia Up Sixfold... "Emerging Crime Route Transformation"

The number of blacklisted passengers arriving from Cambodia has increased sixfold over the past five years. There are growing concerns that air routes from Cambodia are becoming new channels for emerging criminal activities.

Assemblyman Jeong Ilyoung. Photo provided by the assemblyman's office

According to data received by Assemblyman Jeong Ilyoung of the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee (Democratic Party of Korea, Incheon Yeonsu District B) from the Korea Customs Service on October 21, the number of blacklisted passengers from Cambodia rose from 334 in 2020 to 990 in 2023, and further to 1,993 in 2024, showing a steady yearly increase.

Blacklisted passengers refer to individuals with criminal records, drug offenders, and wanted persons. The Korea Customs Service utilizes the Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) to screen such individuals. APIS is a system that reviews criminal and wanted information prior to entry, enabling the pre-identification of high-risk individuals.

However, due to limited information sharing from foreign authorities, the system is mostly used to pre-screen Korean nationals. The increase in blacklisted passengers arriving from Cambodia is interpreted as being for the same reason.

The problem is that as the number of blacklisted passengers grows, incidents of drug smuggling and cases of kidnapping and confinement are also rising.

For example, the amount of drugs seized from Cambodia-bound flights surged more than 37 times, from 0.6 kilograms in 7 cases in 2023 to 22.5 kilograms in 22 cases this year.

In addition, the number of reports of kidnapping and confinement of Korean nationals in Cambodia has surpassed 550 this year, with the whereabouts of 80 individuals still unconfirmed, indicating the seriousness of such crimes according to Assemblyman Jeong. Related cases reported to the police have reached 143, raising concerns about possible links to overseas criminal organizations.

Assemblyman Jeong stated, “Crimes originating from Cambodia are not just isolated incidents but structural issues that directly threaten the lives of our citizens and national security,” and urged, “The Korea Customs Service must immediately strengthen border security and overseas crime response systems to ensure public safety.”

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