Drugs via Overseas Direct Purchase? ... 97% of Narcotics Seized in Q1 Are from Overseas Direct Purchase

The scale of smuggling narcotics through overseas direct purchases is increasing. Narcotics (commonly known as Philopon) hidden inside watch packaging boxes were seized by customs authorities. Photo by Incheon Customs Headquarters, Korea Customs Service

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The smuggling of narcotics through overseas direct purchases is rapidly increasing.

On the 12th, the Incheon Customs Headquarters of the Korea Customs Service announced that it had detected the smuggling of 99 kg of narcotics in the first quarter of this year and sent 16 smugglers to the prosecution.

In particular, 96 kg (97% of the total detected amount) of the seized narcotics were found to have been smuggled through overseas direct purchases via express cargo and international mail, but were caught by customs.

This amount is 39 kg more than the 57 kg of narcotics seized in the first quarter of last year. Customs authorities believe that the recent COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the number of travelers and increased the scale of overseas direct purchases, leading to a rise in attempts to smuggle narcotics through express cargo and international mail.

The most seized narcotic was methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Philopon,’ weighing 58 kg (23 kg in the same period last year).

In particular, recently, drug offenders have been diversifying and sophisticating their methods, from smuggling narcotics ordered overseas to selling them domestically.

Using the dark web and secure messengers to order drugs, then paying through virtual currency brokers, and receiving the items through multiple steps such as quick delivery services, the so-called ‘throwing method’ (where the seller hides narcotics at a specific location and the buyer picks them up) is becoming prevalent.

Concealment methods to evade customs inspections are also diversifying, such as sending narcotics thinly spread inside greeting cards as if sending a letter, vacuum packing and placing them inside canned food, or hiding them between corrugated cardboard in paper boxes.

Accordingly, the Incheon Customs Headquarters plans to devote full efforts to cracking down on narcotics smuggling by utilizing advanced equipment, drug detection dogs, risk management systems, import inspections, communication tracking, big data analysis, digital forensics, and other investigative techniques.

An official from the Incheon Customs Headquarters said, “Cases of overseas direct purchase of some cannabis products legalized abroad (such as e-cigarette cannabis liquids, CBD oil) and psychotropic drugs commonly used like general pharmaceuticals (such as Geotongpyeon, Lorazepam) are increasing,” adding, “Customs will focus on completely blocking narcotics smuggling at the customs border through cooperation with domestic and international enforcement agencies such as the prosecution and police, and by strengthening its own investigative capabilities.”