INTERVIEW Customs agency cooperates internationally for 'drug-free world'

Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Lim Jae-hyeon

By Park Jae-hyuk

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) seeks to create a “drug-free world” through continuous international cooperation in cracking down on drastically increased trafficking during the pandemic era, according to the customs agency chief.

“Recently, drug syndicates have expanded drug supply channels through small consignments such as parcels and express cargoes, since many jurisdictions implemented stringent controls on the movements of passengers in response to COVID-19,” KCS Commissioner Lim Jae-hyeon told The Korea Times. “Drug crimes no longer stay in a specific region, and the world has witnessed these rampant global trends enabled by social networking services and easy accessibility.”

He emphasized international cooperation has become more important, since smuggling methods have become sophisticated due to hidden transactions through social media, the dark web and small consignments.

“It became almost impossible to stop drug trafficking with a single country's effort,” he said. “It is imperative for law enforcement agencies, including international organizations, to share intelligence and work side by side.”

According to the commissioner, the KCS has led the fight against cross-border drug trafficking by analyzing seizure cases and sharing intelligence with customs agencies overseas, since it hosted the World Customs Organization Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for Asia and the Pacific (WCO RILO AP) in Seoul in 2012.

It has also implemented joint enforcement operations with the WCO RILO AP to fight against drug trafficking and provided high-risk information to law enforcement agencies using its network with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the International Intelligence Office of Japan Customs, German Customs, the Royal Thai Customs Department and the Royal Malaysia Police.

Earlier this year, the KCS and international organizations in 79 countries intercepted a combined 6.8 tons of illicit drugs through a three-week operation under the name “Global Operation against Looming Synthetic Drugs,” which was proposed by the KCS last year.

“I am confident that this operation has assisted the WCO member administrations to be better prepared against drug-related threats by sharing intelligence and experience and strengthening our cooperative ties,” Lim said. “The WCO has introduced this operation as a best practice in response to changing drug smuggling methods due to COVID-19 to the law enforcement bodies at the debriefing seminar.”