Customs agency busts 10 drug smuggling attempts through secondary screening

Korea’s customs agency said on Thursday that it busted 10 drug smuggling attempts through secondary screening of international mail, with suspects arrested in every case.

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) detected the cases between April and July after tightening surveillance measures, including inspections of international parcels at postal sorting centers after they had already undergone border screening.

The KCS said that authorities carried out controlled delivery operations in some cases, allowing the intercepted parcels to proceed to their destinations under investigators’ surveillance to arrest the intended recipients.

“The customs agency has established multiple lines of defense against drug smuggling across all entry routes, expanding beyond international mail to include import and express cargo, travelers and crew members of vessels,” KCS Commissioner Lee Jong-wook said.

“We are tracking down recipients and those behind the operations through various investigative techniques, including controlled deliveries,” he added.

“We will track down and arrest drug smuggling and domestic distribution rings to eradicate the circulation of illegal drugs in the country.”

Yonhap