Between January and April 2023, they detected and stopped attempts to bring a total of 213 kg of illicit drugs into the country, according to official data released today by South Korean Customs. Compared to the same period last year, the growth amounted to 32%, which became something of a record.
The top contributors to South Korea, based on holding statistics, are Thailand (29%), followed by the United States (23%), Vietnam (9) and China (8).
At the same time, experts note a change in the nature of attempts to transport drugs. Generally there are fewer such attempts, but if they do occur, then many more banned substances are tried in one batch. Thus, 20 attempts to import methamphetamines, when each consignment weighed at least 10 kg, and only 28 attempts to import consignments weighing less than 10 grams, were suppressed. Last year, 18 large shipments were seized and 52 small ones. More than half of all attempts were made by regular mail. Thus, 114 kg of prohibited substances were seized.
According to customs information, the first methamphetamines (41% of the total weight of confiscated shipments) are smuggled into Korea, followed by marijuana (8%), synthetic cannabinoids (8) and ecstasy pills (3%) .
Although South Korea as a whole is considered quite “clean” in terms of the drug trafficking problem, but recently experts and authorities have started to sound the alarm. Entire drug distribution networks have been uncovered, and in the end, if you want to get a “hellish potion”, it doesn’t matter. Recently, the nation was shocked to learn that drug-containing drinks were being distributed to school children in the very center of Seoul for a while under the guise of “drinks to improve concentration and memory.” This forced the authorities to take emergency measures.
In this regard, some experts note that the release of current statistics by Customs was an attempt to show that work is being done to combat drugs. Earlier, the department, as well as the police and special services, received a barrage of criticism, as it was noted that “on paper” South Korea is an almost drug-free country, but in actually it is not that difficult to buy illegal drugs in the country, it would be a wish. At the same time, in general, the problem of drug trafficking is still less acute in Korea than in many other states, but the situation is gradually worsening.
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