Korea seizes 33.9 kilograms of illegal drugs in joint crackdowns with US authorities

This undated photo, provided by the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office, shows methamphetamine. Yonhap

Korean customs authorities said Thursday they have seized nearly 34 kilograms of illegal drugs smuggled from the United States in joint operations with U.S. law enforcement.

A total of 33.9 kilograms of narcotics, including liquid marijuana, methamphetamine and ketamine, have been confiscated in two separate joint crackdowns, an amount large enough to be used simultaneously by approximately 1.13 million people, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

The operations were carried out with U.S. agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, during two periods — from April to May in 2024 and from June 23 to July 18 this year.

During the latest crackdown, the volume of marijuana-related drugs surged by 258 percent, the KCS said, noting that the smuggling of cannabis has continued to rise following its legalization in parts of the U.S.

The agency also reported an increasing variety of smuggled drugs, with substances, such as methamphetamine and ketamine, being detected for the first time during this operation.

"We will strengthen international cooperation with major drug-supplying countries to take the lead in setting global standards for joint anti-drug crackdowns," KCS Commissioner Lee Myung-koo said.