Incheon Customs Seizes Smuggled Goods Worth 3.3 Billion KRW from Travelers Including Rolex Cases

Rolex watches that smugglers tried to secretly bring into the country through the Incheon Main Customs Office have been seized and are on display. Provided by Incheon Main Customs Office

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] A group attempting to smuggle high-end watches such as Rolex into South Korea was caught by customs.

Incheon Main Customs Office announced on the 17th that it recently arrested two foreign travelers and one domestic receiver who tried to smuggle 83 overseas branded watches by hiding them on their bodies and in their luggage, and reported them to the prosecution.

According to expert appraisal results, the watches they attempted to smuggle are valued at a total of approximately 3.3 billion KRW based on market prices.

In particular, some products were confirmed to be worth about 140 million KRW each at market value.

The group attempted smuggling by importing watch cases via international express cargo or international mail to avoid the high taxes imposed on importing luxury watches, while hiding the watch bodies and warranty cards on their bodies and in their bags to carry them in directly.

A traveler attempting to smuggle high-end luxury watches into the country was caught by customs. The apprehended traveler is demonstrating the method used to conceal the luxury watches. Photo by Incheon Main Customs.

Some watches were worn on the forearm, while others were hidden inside a belt with empty space, covered by loose-fitting outerwear to conceal the forearm and belt, or placed at the bottom of a bag with the bag’s bottom plate placed on top to hide them.

Normally, when importing high-end watches, 47.4% of the product price is levied as taxes and fees, and Incheon Customs explained that the group appeared to attempt smuggling to evade these charges.

An official from Incheon Customs said, “As domestic demand for purchasing high-end luxury goods has recently increased, similar crimes aiming for smuggling profits are expected to continue occurring. Customs plans to continuously monitor and crack down on smuggling disguised as traveler’s luggage as well as attempts to smuggle goods into the country through online channels.”