Korea Customs Service achieves 100% arrest rate in international mail drug smuggling cases

The Korea Customs Service announced that its ‘second line of defense’ against drug smuggling via international mail has successfully intercepted 10 cases since April, resulting in a 100% arrest rate of suspects.

Operating through five major postal hubs, the agency utilizes a dual inspection system to screen mail that has already passed initial border checks. A key tactic used is ‘controlled delivery,’ where customs officials monitor the delivery of illegal substances to identify and arrest the actual recipients and the organized crime groups behind them.

Notable enforcement actions include the arrest of a U.S. national who attempted to receive cannabis cartridges at a famous hotel in Korea, and the interception of a large shipment of Yaba from Thailand. To bolster its capabilities, the agency has increased its specialized investigative personnel from approximately 100 to 325 and is expanding its use of digital forensics and asset tracking.