KCS: "142kg of Drug Smuggling Seized This Year... Maritime Smuggling Is a Hidden Threat, Enforcement Strengthened"

Drug Smuggling Weight Decreases and Cases Increase in Q1 This Year
128kg of Cocaine Seized at Sea in January and April
Concerns Over Large-Scale Maritime Drug Smuggling Lead to 'Strengthened Crackdown'

This year, 142 kg of narcotics smuggled into the country were seized. This represents a 14% decrease in weight compared to the same period last year. However, the number of smuggling cases detected has not significantly decreased, and recently, there have been consecutive attempts to smuggle narcotics by sea, leading the Korea Customs Service to conclude that they cannot ease their crackdown on drug smuggling.

◆ Trends and Characteristics of Drug Smuggling Crackdowns in Q1 This Year = According to the Korea Customs Service on the 23rd, a total of 142 kg of narcotics were seized during smuggling crackdowns from January to March. By smuggling route, international mail accounted for 62.7 kg, express cargo 57.5 kg, and travelers 22.2 kg.

Considering that the total weight of narcotics seized during the same period last year was 166 kg (international mail 93.2 kg, express cargo 32.0 kg, travelers 31.9 kg, etc.), this year saw a reduction of about 24 kg.

This is analyzed to be the effect of intensified crackdowns that have continued since the second half of last year. Supporting this, at Incheon International Airport, where crackdowns were concentrated, drug smuggling by travelers decreased, but the number of traveler drug smuggling cases at other airports actually increased. This can be interpreted as a kind of balloon effect in response to the crackdowns.

The total number of crackdowns in the first quarter was 166 cases, up from 154 cases in the same period last year. The main seized items included 33 cases of methamphetamine totaling 88.8 kg, 51 cases of marijuana totaling 17.1 kg, 15 cases of MDMA totaling 8.8 kg, 14 cases of ketamine totaling 5.7 kg, and 9 cases of synthetic marijuana totaling 4.8 kg. By weight, methamphetamine accounted for the largest proportion, followed by marijuana, MDMA, and ketamine.

The main countries of origin for narcotics headed to Korea (by weight) were Thailand (37%), Malaysia (12%), and the United States (9%). Among these countries, Malaysia saw a sharp increase in smuggling volume last year and was classified as the second-largest country attempting drug smuggling after Thailand. In Malaysia, 2 cases totaling 0.9 kg were attempted in Q1 2023, and 6 cases totaling 17.0 kg were attempted in Q1 this year.

◆ Warning Signs of Drug Smuggling Using Ships = The recent consecutive attempts at large-scale drug smuggling using ships highlight the need to strengthen responses to maritime drug smuggling.

In January this year, 100 kg of cocaine was seized at Busan New Port following a smuggling report received by the Coast Guard. Subsequently, this month, 28 kg of cocaine was seized at Ulsan Onsan Port following a smuggling report received by Customs. With 128 kg of cocaine seized at sea within just four months, a warning light has been turned on for crackdowns on drug smuggling using ships.

In this regard, on the 23rd, Ko Gwang-hyo, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service, chaired the ‘2024 2nd Special Task Force Meeting on Drug Smuggling’ at Busan Customs, sharing countermeasures to block maritime drug smuggling and ordering a full-scale response on site.

The maritime drug smuggling response measures ordered by Commissioner Ko include securing underwater surveillance capabilities to block drug smuggling hidden in ships and hulls, and reducing blind spots in existing customs surveillance.

They also include strengthening monitoring and crackdowns on narcotics concealed and smuggled inside containers loaded onto ships, and reorganizing criteria to select high-risk ships and containers to improve the efficiency of on-site inspection systems.

Commissioner Ko emphasized, “The Korea Customs Service has pursued measures to eradicate drug smuggling through various channels such as international mail, express cargo, and travelers by operating the task force. However, as large-scale drug smuggling by sea has recently become a realistic threat, we must remain vigilant about the possibility of drug smuggling at ports nationwide, including Busan, and focus our capabilities on surveillance and crackdowns.”