▲ The consignment was searched through X-ray after attempting to illegally import the item by falsely listing the item.

[Global Economic Times] The Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Quarantine Headquarters is operating a special quarantine period (October 15 to November 15) as attempts to illegally import banned raw fruits are expected to increase as the fresh fruit distribution peak season approaches.

The quarantine headquarters plans to strengthen X-ray searches of consignments and mail at major airports and ports, intensively deploy quarantine detection dogs, and strengthen cooperation by promoting joint inspections with customs and the International Postal Logistics Center. In addition, we regularly conduct patrol inspections of small cargo (LCL, Less than Container Load) warehouses, and if prohibited goods such as fresh fruit are found or suspected, the entire quantity is quarantined.

In addition, by operating a planning investigation team with 89 special judicial police officers, we focus on cracking down on about 1,400 foreign grocery stores and traditional markets across the country, and continue to monitor social networking services (SNS) and online shopping malls in conjunction with 131 honorary plant watchers. We plan to pursue it.

The Quarantine Headquarters plans to collect and destroy all imported fresh fruits (sugar apples, guava, etc.) from foreign countries that are prohibited from being imported, and thoroughly investigate those who import or distribute prohibited products and forward them to judicial authorities or report them to relevant agencies.

Ko Byeong-gu, head of the Plant Quarantine Department at the Quarantine Headquarters, said, “As the number of direct purchases and travelers from overseas has increased and the number of foreigners residing in Korea has increased significantly, there are concerns about the illegal import of foreign fresh fruits through international mail, consignment, and mobile devices.” It was emphasized that prohibited import products such as raw fruit should not be brought into the country, as the introduction of pests such as fruit flies and leaf bugs through fruit could cause great damage to the domestic fruit industry and the environment. We also observed raw fruit suspected of being banned being distributed. “If so, please report it to the quarantine headquarters (054-912-0616).”

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