Seoul: The number of drug trafficking attempts into South Korea rose more than 20 percent from a year earlier in 2024, the customs agency said Tuesday. Authorities intercepted an average of 2.3 drug trafficking cases daily in 2024, reflecting a 22 percent rise compared to the previous year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, in total, 862 trafficking cases, involving a combined 787 kilograms of drugs, were detected last year, the agency said. The seized amount is estimated to be sufficient to supply 26 million people simultaneously. The volume of confiscated drugs has steadily increased in recent years, with 469 kilograms seized in 2021, 624 kilograms in 2022, and 769 kilograms in 2023.
Since October 2023, the agency has been operating a special task force to coordinate drug enforcement efforts across its headquarters and regional offices nationwide.