Surveillance and enforcement against the smuggling of firearms and explosives will be strengthened ahead of the presidential election.
On May 15, the Korea Customs Service announced that it had instructed 34 customs offices at airports and seaports nationwide to intensify surveillance activities to prevent the smuggling of hazardous items such as firearms and explosives.
This enhanced enforcement is a measure to address heightened public safety concerns around the time of the presidential election. The Korea Customs Service plans to block the entry of firearms and explosives by employing specialized surveillance and enforcement methods tailored to each entry route, including travelers, cargo, postal, and express shipments, as well as by utilizing advanced equipment.
Kwanghyo Ko, Commissioner of the Korea Customs Service (right), is directly inspecting the customs inspection procedures at Incheon International Airport during the early morning hours when travelers from Mexico arrive. The photo is unrelated to the article. Courtesy of the Korea Customs Service. Photo by Korea Customs Service
First, all checked baggage of travelers will be screened 100% using X-ray scanners to check for the presence of firearms and similar items. In particular, the selection criteria for the "immediate customs inspection upon landing," which was originally introduced for intensive drug inspections, will be expanded to include hazardous items such as firearms and explosives. Passengers on high-risk flights will be subject to focused inspections with millimeter-wave scanners immediately upon disembarking to detect hazardous items concealed on their persons.
The agency is also preparing for the possibility that firearms and similar items could be concealed and smuggled in maritime container cargo. The inspection rate for cargo will be increased using container scanners and vehicle-mounted X-ray scanners, while inspections of small cargo will be expanded with small and medium-sized X-ray scanners and portable X-ray devices.
In addition, to prevent direct smuggling of firearms by seafarers and shipping industry workers, 24-hour surveillance using advanced high-definition CCTV will be implemented, and enforcement against unauthorized entrants will be strengthened.
Furthermore, the Korea Customs Service will conduct X-ray inspections of all international mail and express shipments to prevent the entry of hazardous items. When suspicious items are detected, metal detectors and explosive detectors will be used to swiftly eliminate any risks.
Commissioner Kwanghyo Ko of the Korea Customs Service stated, "The Korea Customs Service has already established and operated a continuous surveillance system by mobilizing inspection personnel and advanced screening equipment to block the domestic entry of hazardous items such as firearms and explosives. In addition, as we approach the presidential election, our policy is to further strengthen our surveillance and enforcement capabilities to prevent any social unrest."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
