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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] SEOUL, June 2 — The Korea Customs Service (KCS) said it seized a record 3,233 kilograms of illegal drugs over the past year, highlighting strengthened efforts to combat transnational crime.
Between June last year and April this year, authorities intercepted 1,181 drug smuggling cases, marking a 22% increase in cases and a fourfold rise in volume from a year earlier.
KCS also blocked the entry of 17 illegal firearms and 331 rounds of ammunition, while a joint task force with law enforcement agencies led to additional seizures and arrests linked to emerging smuggling methods such as overseas purchases and 3D-printed gun parts.
The agency intensified its crackdown on trade and financial crimes, uncovering 67 cases of illegal exports worth 1.2 trillion won and 122 foreign exchange crime cases totaling 2.07 trillion won, both sharply higher than a year earlier.
Separately, KCS stepped up enforcement against unfair trade practices, conducting on-site inspections and identifying tax evasion and illicit transactions, while also blocking 143,000 counterfeit goods to protect Korean brands.
The agency said it will further strengthen drug enforcement, expand inspection systems, and enhance monitoring of new types of financial crimes, including those involving virtual assets.
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
