Seoul: South Korean customs authorities announced on Monday that they seized 180 kilograms of illegal drugs at the border during the first quarter of the year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) reported a total of 302 narcotics cases detected between January and March. Although the total volume of drugs seized decreased by 5 percent compared to the previous year, the number of cases experienced a 13 percent increase on a year-on-year basis.
The KCS highlighted that smuggling via air travelers showed the most significant rise, with 178 cases accounting for 64 kilograms in the mentioned period. Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases increased by 128 percent, while the volume saw a 78 percent rise.
Conversely, the agency noted a decline in drug smuggling through express cargo and international mail. Methamphetamine was the most seized drug, accounting for 124 kilograms, followed by new synthetic drugs at 32 kilograms and cannabis at 9 kilograms.