The 5th Special Investigation Headquarters Meeting on Drug Crimes Held
Government to Crack Down Thoroughly on Drug Smuggling Centered on the Korea Customs Service
Establishment of a 'Source-Targeted International Cooperation System' to Combat Drug Smuggling
Last year, the quantity of seized narcotics increased by more than 17% compared to 2023, while the number of drug offenders decreased by over 16%. The government plans to establish a 'source-targeted international cooperation system' that thoroughly cracks down on drug smuggling centered on the Korea Customs Service, and through real-time international cooperation, apprehend and collect evidence against dispatchers at the local sites of drug shipments to strike at the root of drug smuggling.
On the 17th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, National Police Agency, Korea Customs Service, Korea Coast Guard, Ministry of National Defense, National Intelligence Service, and Ministry of Food and Drug Safety held the 5th Special Investigation Headquarters (Special Headquarters) meeting on drug crimes. They analyzed the achievements of each agency’s drug crime enforcement efforts last year and established key response measures for drug crimes this year.
According to the Special Headquarters, due to focused crackdowns last year, the quantity of seized narcotics was 1,173 kg, a 17.6% increase from the previous year (998 kg), while the number of drug offenders was 23,022, a 16.6% (4,589 persons) decrease from the previous year (27,611 persons). The increase in narcotics seizures at the customs stage led to an overall increase in seized narcotics, and this increase is analyzed to have contributed to a decrease in domestic distribution and use. However, the Special Headquarters explained, "Although most drug offenders have shifted to a decreasing trend, foreign drug offenders have steadily increased, which is due to a sharp rise in cases where foreign residents in Korea smuggle narcotics using international mail and then trade and use them."
At this Special Headquarters meeting, based on the analysis of last year’s results, it was decided to focus on the following measures this year by consolidating the capabilities of each agency. First, regarding the thorough blocking of domestic narcotics inflow, the Korea Customs Service will strictly control narcotics inflow from the customs stage and conduct local cooperative investigations through investigative personnel dispatched to major drug dispatch countries, establishing a system to proactively block narcotics inflow.
The Special Headquarters stated, "We plan to thoroughly crack down on drug smuggling centered on the Korea Customs Service, with active support from related agencies." They added, "Due to multiple recent cases where overseas drug manufacturers entered Korea, manufactured narcotics from raw materials, and distributed them, we will strengthen the cooperation system with the National Intelligence Service and Korea Customs Service to enhance surveillance and crackdown systems on narcotics raw materials."
Additionally, the sharing of information on online non-face-to-face drug transactions through Telegram, the dark web, and other platforms will be expanded, and cutting-edge equipment such as artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be introduced at investigation sites. Through an investigative working-level consultative body composed of prosecutors and police from 17 cities and provinces nationwide, plans will be established for focused crackdowns on foreign drug offenders and high-risk facilities tailored to each region’s situation, and joint enforcement activities will be carried out. Joint crackdowns will also be conducted to respond to the misuse of medical narcotics in preparation for the expansion of the investigation scope following the introduction of criminal penalties for doctors who self-prescribe medical narcotics.
The Special Headquarters explained, "Since most narcotics distributed and consumed domestically are imported from overseas (Southeast Asia), we will establish a 'source-targeted international cooperation system' that apprehends dispatchers at the local sites of drug shipments and collects evidence through real-time international cooperation to strike at the root of drug smuggling." They added, "Through close cooperation among agencies under the Special Headquarters, we will strictly punish domestic narcotics distribution organizations and suppress demand through treatment, rehabilitation, and education for users."
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