The Korea Customs Service announced on the 27th that since establishing a second line of defense against drug smuggling via international mail in April this year, it has seized 954 cases (1,045 kg) of narcotics and achieved a 100% apprehension rate of smugglers by July. The second line of defense refers to a dual drug enforcement system where international mail that has passed initial border inspections undergoes an additional round of selective screening in collaboration with Korea Post.
According to a source from the customs office, 9 out of 10 cases detected at the second line of defense were investigated solely by customs authorities, which utilized techniques such as "controlled delivery" to achieve a 100% apprehension rate. Controlled delivery involves monitoring and controlling the delivery of seized illegal drugs under the supervision of investigators to identify and apprehend the actual recipient. This method goes beyond simply intercepting drug imports and is a core technique in narcotics investigations to target smugglers and their networks.
For example, Seoul Customs apprehended a suspect of American nationality who had hidden four cannabis cartridges in coffee bags and sent them via international mail to a renowned hotel in South Korea. The suspect attempted to enter the country as a regular tourist and collect the package at the hotel. Upon detecting the cannabis cartridges at Dongseoul Post Office—one of the second-line screening sites—Seoul Customs immediately coordinated with immigration authorities and other agencies to confirm the suspect’s entry into the country, movement routes, and accommodation details. They then executed a controlled delivery, leading to the suspect’s on-site arrest while attempting to receive the package.
The customs office stated that a total of 39 narcotics investigation teams, comprising 325 people of special judicial police, have been conducting narcotics investigations. By July this year, they had seized 954 cases (1,054 kg) of narcotics and referred 859 cases to prosecutors for further action.
The customs office plans to prevent gaps in narcotics investigations by expanding organizational and personnel resources, enhancing investigators’ capabilities, and collaborating with related agencies, including the newly established Serious Crimes Investigation Agency in October this year, through joint investigations and information sharing.
- 월 5900원 멤버십, 신문 독자에게는 2900원, 조선멤버십
- 55000원 상당의 신문-잡지 8종 마음껏 보기, 조선멤버십
- 현금처럼 쓸 7000포인트 받아 알뜰한 쇼핑, 조선멤버십
Post a Comment