Seoul: South Korea's customs authorities announced the seizure of over 70 kilograms of illegal drugs smuggled from Thailand, carried out as part of a joint operation with the Southeast Asian nation.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) reported a total of 72.7 kilograms of narcotics confiscated in 45 smuggling attempts during the fourth phase of the crackdown, conducted jointly with Thai authorities from March to May. This operation is part of a larger effort initiated in 2022, during which both countries have completed four phases of enforcement, seizing a cumulative total of 385.5 kilograms of drugs in 156 cases. The seized amount is significant, capable of simultaneous use by approximately 11.61 million people.
The latest operation saw cannabis accounting for 21 kilograms of the total seized drugs, marking a substantial increase from the 0.8 kilograms detected in the previous phase. Authorities have linked this surge to Thailand's recent legalization of cannabis, which may have contributed to heightened trafficking activities.
Lee Jong-wook, a senior official at the KCS, emphasized the importance of expanding joint crackdowns with key countries and bolstering cooperation with domestic and international agencies to eliminate drug smuggling at its roots.