Seoul: The amount of illegal drugs seized reached an all-time six-month high in the first half of the year, with international drug rings increasingly turning their eyes to Asia amid tightening border control in the United States, the customs agency said Tuesday. South Korea cracked down on 617 trafficking cases, involving a combined 2,680 kilograms of illegal substances, in the January-June period, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

According to Yonhap News Agency, the number of intercepted cases jumped 70 percent from the same period last year, while the amount of drugs seized jumped ninefold over the cited period, the agency said. The amount confiscated in the first half is enough to supply close to 90 million people simultaneously, it added.

Authorities said they saw a rise in large-scale drug smuggling attempts originating from Central and South America. In particular, it intercepted two cases of drug trafficking attempts -- originating from Peru in April and Ecuador in May -- seizing a total of 2,290 kilograms of cocaine.

The agency explained that drug trafficking organizations operating in Central and South America are believed to be seeking new markets in Asia after the United States and Canada heightened border enforcement measures this year. The KCS said it plans to incorporate state-of-the-art technology, including artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, and strengthen partnerships with customs agencies of other countries to prevent drug smuggling at its source.