Customs seize record drug shipments from air travelers

Korea has experienced a surge in air travelers attempting to smuggle narcotics into the country this year, with seizures already exceeding last year’s total. International air travelers caught smuggling drugs into Korea this year have nearly tripled the 2024 total, government data released Tuesday shows. From January through September, 303 passengers were intercepted at Incheon International Airport, far exceeding the 102 apprehended in all of 2024, according to figures provided by the office of Rep. Kim Eun-hye of the main opposition People Power Party. The total amount intercepted this year reached 168.3 kilograms, valued at 18.4 billion won ($13 million). The sharp rise has been driven largely by Chinese nationals, whose numbers have jumped from 27 last year to 97 so far in 2025. The quantity of drugs intercepted from Chinese travelers also jumped from 5.6 kilograms in 2022 and 15.3 kilograms in 2023, to 23.1 kilograms last year and 39.2 kilograms so far this year. The lawmaker is concerned that a visa-free entry policy introduced for Chinese group tourists last month would lead to aWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times