657kg of Drugs Bound for Korea from Thailand and Cambodia Intercepted and Blocked Locally

A total of 657 kilograms of narcotics, which were being smuggled into Korea from Thailand and Cambodia, were intercepted locally in those countries. This case is significant in that it stopped drug smuggling at the source through international joint enforcement operations.

The Korea Customs Service announced on April 23 that, during joint anti-drug operations with customs authorities in Thailand and Cambodia from January to March of this year, it detected 32 attempted smuggling cases involving methamphetamine, cannabis, YABA, etomidate, and other drugs. The seized quantity is enough for simultaneous use by 1.81 million people.

Korea-Cambodia customs authorities are conducting a joint inspection of sea cargo bound for Korea in Cambodia. Korea Customs Service

The joint operations were carried out to proactively block the inflow of narcotics from the point of departure overseas, before they could reach Korea. Customs authorities in each country exchanged information about high-risk targets in advance. During the operation period, inspections of travelers and cargo bound for Korea were intensified in each country to prevent drug smuggling attempts.

Customs officers dispatched to one another analyzed and selected high-risk targets together and conducted joint inspections. When narcotics were detected, sender and recipient information was shared in real time, and additional high-risk factors were thoroughly investigated.

In Thailand, the joint operation was conducted under the codename "TRIDENT," resulting in the detection of 28 drug smuggling cases totaling 651.4 kilograms. Previously, the two countries launched the "Korea-Thailand Joint Anti-Drug Operation (codename SIREN)" in 2022, and have since conducted regular annual joint operations.

Through five rounds of these operations, a total of 184 cases amounting to 1,036.9 kilograms of narcotics (enough for 13.22 million people to use simultaneously) have been detected coming from Thailand. Notably, the scale of drug smuggling intercepted during this year’s TRIDENT operation was the largest ever since the joint operations began.

Korean and Thai customs officials are conducting a joint inspection of express mail heading to Korea in Thailand. Korea Customs Service

In Cambodia, the joint operation was conducted under the codename "LIONSTONE." Cambodia has emerged as a new departure route for drugs since 2024, as neighboring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam have strengthened drug enforcement efforts.

To preemptively prevent a so-called "balloon effect" — in which traffickers reroute through neighboring countries — the Korea Customs Service has maintained a cooperative relationship with Cambodian customs authorities since last year. The two countries conducted a joint operation for the first time this year, from January 26 to February 28. During this period, four drug smuggling cases involving methamphetamine and etomidate, totaling 5.7 kilograms, were intercepted.

The Korea Customs Service emphasized that the joint operations with Thailand and Cambodia are exemplary cases of stopping drug smuggling through international cooperation, attracting attention from the global community.

Based on these achievements, the Korea Customs Service plans to conduct year-round joint operations with customs authorities in major countries across Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. In addition, it will cooperate with overseas drug enforcement and intelligence agencies to strike at the source of international drug supply regions and focus on dismantling global drug trafficking organizations.

Lee Myunggu, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, stated, "The Korea Customs Service has established and is operating a system of drug enforcement and information cooperation not only with Thailand and Cambodia, but also with countries near the Golden Triangle, the world's largest drug production area. We will continue to do our utmost in border management to ensure that not even small quantities of narcotics cross into Korea."

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