Marine Drug Seizures Increase 11-Fold in 4 Years... Coast Guard Cheong Launches Drug Crime Investigation Advisory Committee

The Korea Coast Guard launched the 'Drug Crime Investigation Advisory Committee' on the 6th to strengthen investigative capabilities and international cooperation against drug crimes.

The advisory committee consists of 19 domestic and international public, private, and academic experts related to drugs, including lawyer Kim Hee-jun, Professor Yoon Heung-hee of Hansung University, the Korea branch of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and South American embassies in Korea. Lawyer Kim was elected as the chairperson of the advisory committee.

Kim Jong-wook, Commissioner of the Korea Coast Guard, stated, "Drug crimes smuggled through the seas have reached a serious level," adding, "We will eradicate drug crimes at sea by operating the advisory committee and establishing a strong domestic and international cooperation system."

At the appointment ceremony of the 'Coast Guard Drug Crime Investigation Advisory Committee' held on the 6th, Jang In-sik, Director of the Investigation Bureau of the Coast Guard (center front row), and the advisory committee members are taking a commemorative photo. [Photo by Korea Coast Guard]

To root out drug crimes, the Korea Coast Guard established 'Drug Investigation Task Forces' at each regional office in April and is mobilizing all investigators nationwide for an all-out response.

The number of drug crime cases detected by the Coast Guard last year was 962, an approximately 11-fold increase from 90 cases in 2018 over four years. By year, the cases were 173 in 2019, 412 in 2020, 518 in 2021, 962 last year, and 496 as of August this year, showing an increasing trend every year.

Amid continuous detection of large-scale drug smuggling using vessels, in August 2019, the Coast Guard seized 100.764 kg of cocaine worth about 300 billion KRW from a Hong Kong-registered coal cargo ship attempting to enter Taean Port, Chungnam. This amount is enough for simultaneous use by 3.3 million people. Additionally, in January 2021, 35 kg of cocaine sufficient for simultaneous use by 1 million people was seized from a Liberia-registered container ship entering Busan New Port.

Drug sales and distribution targeting foreign maritime workers, who have low awareness of the dangers of drugs, are also continuously being uncovered. In May, the Coast Guard arrested 15 members of a foreign drug distribution organization selling ecstasy and ketamine to foreign crew members along the southern coast. In December last year, five members of a foreign drug distribution organization were also apprehended in the Jeonnam area.