"Not Dried Mango, But Marijuana"... Two Thai Nationals Arrested for Smuggling

Two Thai Marijuana Industry Workers Arrested
Smuggled Drugs Concealed in Vacuum-Sealed Food Packages

On May 7, Incheon Airport Headquarters Customs, under the Korea Customs Service, announced that two Thai nationals had been arrested and referred for prosecution on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act after being caught smuggling marijuana.

Marijuana hidden in a bag of dried mango. Provided by Incheon Airport Headquarters Customs

Marijuana, often referred to as a gateway drug, acts directly on the nervous system and can cause side effects such as sensory paralysis, memory impairment, and mental confusion.

In February, customs authorities detected a total of 3.1 kg of marijuana in the suspects' luggage through traveler information analysis and a thorough search of their belongings. Initially, the suspects completely denied the smuggling charges, claiming that "a third party asked us to carry dried mango and dried banana" and "the marijuana found was for personal use, and we did not know that possession of marijuana is illegal in Korea." However, after persistent investigation by customs officials, they eventually confessed to the crime.

It was revealed that the suspects were employed in the marijuana industry in Thailand and had conspired to smuggle marijuana into Korea. They concealed the marijuana inside packages of dried mango, a well-known Thai dried fruit product, and vacuum-sealed it as a method of smuggling.

Customs authorities plan to strengthen inspections of personal belongings by utilizing advanced scientific equipment and big data traveler analysis techniques to effectively block increasingly sophisticated drug smuggling attempts. In addition, they are accelerating efforts to prevent the inflow of narcotics into Korea by establishing information-sharing systems with customs authorities in major drug source and consumption countries, including Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

A customs official stated, "Since Thailand's legalization of marijuana in 2022, there has been a growing trend of marijuana smuggling from Thailand," and urged, "Be aware that smuggling or using marijuana in Korea is strictly punishable. If you encounter suspected cases of drug smuggling or use, please actively report them to the Korea Customs Service's smuggling report center."