It has been revealed that both the number and weight of drug smuggling cases detected this year have increased compared to last year. This is interpreted as the result of an increase in both small-scale smuggling presumed for personal consumption and large-scale smuggling for organized distribution.
According to the Korea Customs Service on the 4th, there were 623 attempts to smuggle drugs detected at border checkpoints from January to September this year. The weight of the drugs attempted to be smuggled was 574 kg, which is enough for 19 million people (applying 0.03g per dose of Philopon) to take simultaneously.
This means that about 2 cases and 2.1 kg of drug smuggling were detected daily at border checkpoints. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases increased by 24% and the weight increased by 16%.
The increase in the number of detections was largely due to a rise in cases where travelers or international mail attempted to bring in small quantities of drugs weighing 10g or less (presumed for personal consumption), including pharmaceuticals containing drug substances and cannabis products. The number of drug smuggling cases detected via international mail involving 10g or less increased from 25 cases last year (January to September) to 39 cases this year (January to September).
The increase in detected weight was analyzed by the Korea Customs Service to be due to an increase in large-scale smuggling attempts by drug organizations for distribution purposes. From January to September this year, the Customs Service cracked down on 15 cases of large-scale smuggling involving 10 kg or more, totaling 272 kg, which is 200% more in cases and 330% more in weight compared to the same period last year.
The increasing trend was also clear in the total weight of drug smuggling detected in the first to third quarters by year. It steadily increased from 134 kg in 2020, 292 kg in 2021, 383 kg in 2022, to 496 kg last year. Among these, the total weight of drug smuggling detected in 2021 was 694 kg, but the Customs Service excluded 402 kg of Philopon (which was detected while trying to leave Korea via transit) from the final tally as an exceptional case.
The main drug smuggling routes this year, based on the number of cases, were ▲international mail with 319 cases (a 51% increase from last year), ▲express cargo with 156 cases (25%), ▲travelers with 141 cases (23%), and ▲other routes with 7 cases (1%). Based on weight, the order was ▲express cargo with 272 kg (a 47% increase from last year), ▲international mail with 145 kg (25%), ▲travelers with 95 kg (17%), and ▲other routes with 62 kg (11%).
The major detected drug items (by weight) included Philopon (154 kg, 122 cases), cocaine (62 kg, 6 cases), cannabis (46 kg, 172 cases), and ketamine (33 kg, 51 cases). The main countries of departure (by weight) were Thailand with 233 kg (110 cases), followed by the United States with 110 kg (137 cases), Mexico with 29 kg (2 cases), Malaysia with 26 kg (13 cases), Canada with 25 kg (16 cases), and the Netherlands with 22 kg (26 cases).
Thailand and the United States were named as the main drug departure countries toward Korea again this year, following last year. This is analyzed to be influenced by the fact that Thailand and the United States are adjacent to Philopon production areas and are regions where cannabis is legalized. The drugs attempted to be smuggled from these countries mainly consisted of Philopon (Thailand: 56 cases with 224 kg; United States: 10 cases with 26 kg) and cannabis (Thailand: 28 cases with 7 kg; United States: 68 cases with 23 kg).
Han Min, Director of the Customs Service Investigation Bureau, stated, “The total number of drug offenders detected domestically last year was about 27,000, which is understood to have sharply increased compared to previous years,” and added, “As drug demand remains steady, attempts to smuggle drugs are also expected to continue.”
Director Han also said, “The Customs Service operates an information analysis team 24 hours a day to monitor and manage international mail and express cargo so that drug smuggling attempts can be blocked at the border stage, and plans to strengthen inspections targeting travelers from high-risk countries.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
