Korea Customs Service Reports Massive Spike, Led by 34-Fold Increase in Cocaine

(C) The Star

 
SEOUL — The Korea Customs Service (KCS) announced a monumental surge in drug seizures at the border, revealing that a staggering 2,913 kilograms of narcotics were intercepted through October 2025, marking the highest volume ever recorded.

On December 5, the KCS, led by Commissioner Lee Myung-gu, held the 2025 Special Measures Task Force Meeting for Drug Smuggling at the Seoul Main Customs. According to the KCS, the total number of interdictions reached 1,032 cases through October. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases increased by 45%, while the total weight of seized drugs skyrocketed by 384%.

The most dramatic increase was observed in cocaine seizures. The KCS intercepted 8 cases of cocaine smuggling, confiscating a total of 2,302 kg. This volume accounts for approximately 80% of the total weight seized this year and represents an astonishing 34-fold increase over the 68 kg of cocaine seized during the entire previous year. This massive spike is attributed to a series of large-scale interdictions, notably the 1,690 kg of cocaine discovered in April aboard a vessel originating from Peru—the largest single seizure in the nation's history.

The drugs were found hidden using various methods, including concealment within everyday items such as snacks, stick coffee, and avocado oil, as revealed in a display of samples at the Seoul Main Customs.

Shifting Smuggling Routes and Enhanced International Cooperation

Geographically, Southeast Asia remains the primary origin of illicit drugs, though notable increases were seen from Cambodia and Laos. In particular, seizures from Cambodia soared from 0.6 kg in 2023 to 23 kg in the first ten months of this year. By route, air travelers accounted for the largest number of cases, totaling 505.

In response to the escalating threat, the KCS unveiled a comprehensive drug enforcement strategy. A key initiative for 2026 is the establishment of a "Korean Task Force" framework, an expansion of international joint operations with the top 10 drug source countries.

The current top five source countries are Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the United States, and the Netherlands. For the coming year, the KCS plans to expand cooperative efforts to include countries with rapidly increasing smuggling risk, such as Cambodia, Laos, Canada, Germany, and France, bringing the total number of partner nations to ten. This international collaboration is intended to construct a robust, transnational barrier against the flow of narcotics into the country, signaling the government's commitment to combating drug trafficking at its source.

The record-breaking seizure figures underscore a critical, rapidly escalating drug crisis at the nation’s borders, prompting the KCS to urgently strengthen its detection capabilities and global law enforcement partnerships. The success of large-scale interdictions, while alarming in volume, is a testament to the intensified efforts by the KCS to protect the nation from the influx of illegal narcotics.