Weed smuggling skyrockets following legalization in N. America

An official from Incheon Main Customs shows different types of marijuana products smuggled into the country, including jelly, chocolate, caramel and alcohol, during a press briefing at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday. / Yonhap

By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea is seeing a drastic rise in cases of marijuana being smuggled into the country since some states in the United States, and lately Canada, legalized the drug.

According to Incheon Main Customs (IMC), Tuesday, the authorities caught 182 cases of marijuana products smuggling from the North American region from January to November, a 314 percent increase from the same period last year.

The value of the drugs confiscated was estimated at 570 million won ($433,000), an increase of 123 percent.

Along with conventional forms, more diverse marijuana products have been smuggled, including jelly, chocolate, marijuana concentrate and alcohol.

There were 105 cases where the substance was caught coming into the country via mail, followed by 70 cases of entering through express cargo. In seven cases, the travelers themselves were carrying the products, a rise from only one case last year.

The rise is due to easier access to the drug as some parts of the U.S., including California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada legalized recreational marijuana, with California, where many Koreans visit, doing so starting this year. Thirty states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

In the middle of October, Canada also legalized the drug for recreational purposes.

But Koreans, according to the domestic law on drug control, can be punished for using marijuana even in foreign countries where use is legalized, in addition to bringing the products to Korea.

“There are various types of marijuana products, such as chocolate, jelly and alcohol,” an official from the IMC said. “The chances are getting high for Korean travelers to buy such products without knowing they contain marijuana and bring them to the country.”