Korea seizes 70 kilograms of illegal drugs in joint crackdown with Thai authorities

This photo provided by Incheon Regional Customs shows illegal drugs seized by the customs service. Korea Times file

Korea's customs authorities said Tuesday they have seized more than 70 kilograms of illegal drugs smuggled from Thailand as part of a joint operation with the Southeast Asian country.

A total of 72.7 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated in 45 smuggling attempts during the fourth phase of a joint crackdown launched with Thai authorities from March to May, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

Since the operation began in 2022, the two countries have conducted four phases of joint enforcement, seizing a cumulative total of 385.5 kilograms of drugs in 156 cases, an amount large enough to be used simultaneously by approximately 11.61 million people, the KCS said.

During the latest operation, cannabis accounted for 21 kilograms of the total haul, a significant jump from just 0.8 kilogram detected during the third phase.

Authorities attributed the surge to Thailand's recent legalization of cannabis, which may have led to increased trafficking.

"We will continue to expand bilateral and multilateral joint crackdowns with key countries and strengthen cooperation with relevant domestic and international agencies to eradicate drug smuggling at its roots," said Lee Jong-wook, a senior official at the KCS.