South Korea has seized 1.1 kilograms of illegal drugs since launching a tighter surveillance program on international mail two months ago, the customs agency said Thursday.
The announcement came after the Korea Customs Service launched a new monitoring scheme in April, under which international mail that has undergone an initial inspection is subject to additional X-ray screening at postal logistics centers.
“Recently, there has been a growing number of drug smuggling attempts through international mail, and concealment methods have become more sophisticated,” the agency said in a release.
“Thus, the policy was adopted to establish a more thorough monitoring system among airports, seaports and mail distribution centers,” it added.
In detail, the customs agency seized synthetic drugs, marijuana and codeine in three separate cases, reflecting the effectiveness of the crackdown.
The customs agency said it has also detected 1.5 kilograms of illicit drugs at the initial screening stage under the tighter surveillance program.
South Korea will continue to utilize information gathered through the surveillance program, including shipping routes and package types, to further establish a more sophisticated crackdown system.
“Looking ahead, South Korea will not only tighten surveillance on international mail, but on all import channels, including express deliveries, travelers and general imports, establishing a multi-layered monitoring system,” Lee Jong-wook, commissioner of the agency, said.
Lee noted the country will expand investment in applying cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, to root out drug smuggling.
Japans customs have also expressed plans to increase screening of international shipments, especially from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
