Korea seizes 650 kilograms of illegal drugs from Cambodia, Thailand in joint crackdown
Published: 23 Apr. 2026, 12:51
![Customs authorities examine packages [KOREA CUSTOMS SERVICE]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/23/416138bf-0762-4f4f-aac4-8ffafd3fdfe6.jpg)
Customs authorities examine packages [KOREA CUSTOMS SERVICE]
Korea's customs authorities seized more than 650 kilograms (1,433 pounds) of illegal drugs coming from Cambodia and Thailand at the border in the first quarter, during joint crackdown operations with customs agencies of the two countries, the agency said Thursday.
A total of 657 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated in the January-March period, an amount that could supply some 1.8 million people, according to the Korea Customs Service.
Methamphetamine, marijuana and etomidate, an anesthetic agent, were included among the drugs seized in the 32 cases uncovered by the two collaborative investigations, the agency said.
By country, 28 cases involving 651.4 kilograms of narcotics were caught under a joint crackdown, dubbed Trident, with Thai authorities. The amount of drugs seized marked the highest for a single crackdown since the two countries started carrying out such operations in 2022, the agency said.
An aggregate of 14 cases, involving 1,037 kilograms of illegal drugs, were uncovered during the past five joint investigations conducted so far, the agency said.
On the Cambodia front, authorities have cracked down in four cases, involving 5.7 kilograms of illegal drugs, under operation Lionstone, which was carried out from Jan. 26 to Feb. 28.
Korea and Cambodia have been working closely since last year to prevent traffickers from diversifying their drug supply routes to other adjacent countries, the customs said.
Lee Myeong-ku, the Commissioner of the customs service, vowed to prevent "even a single dose" of illegal drugs from crossing the Korean border, adding that his agency plans to work with relevant government authorities to track the supply routes of illegal narcotics.
Yonhap
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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