Illegal drugs caught by South Korean customs surged to a 10-year-high in 2014 as international crime syndicates increased their trafficking from their Asian manufacturing bases, government tally said Thursday.
The Korea Customs Service said it discovered 308 shipments of banned substances last year totaling 71.7 kilograms with a street price of 150 billion won ($137.8 million). Compared to 2013, the tally represents a 21 percent spike in the nabbed shipments. Weight and value also increased 54 percent and 62 percent, respectively.
There were 50.8 kilograms of methamphetamine last year, the largest amount detected since 2003 and enough for 1.68 million drug users. The total is significantly higher than 30.2 kilograms detected the year before. Other drugs caught included marijuana, synthetic cannabis and cocaine.
Methamphetamine, also called philopon in Korea, a potent central nervous system stimulant, is the most popular form of drugs circulated in the country. A kilogram of philopon is worth 3 billion won.
KCS said that the spike in numbers last year is related to more large crime syndicates handling methamphetamine trafficking from manufacturing bases in China and Hong Kong.
Of all methamphetamine shipments, 47.8 kilograms worth was linked to crime organizations.
The customs office said there was a sharp rise in private trafficking as well, with users attempting to bring in the drugs through international mail.
Last year, 228 packages were detected worth 3.3 billion won, up significantly from 139 packages and 1.1 billion won. The KCS said it had caught 10 teenagers trying to buy illegal drugs from foreign Internet sites.
Officials warned that there is a rising move to use South Korean nationals as couriers or mules and that they can be dealt severely for drug trafficking offences in foreign countries.
KCS said it plans to join the CATalyst program set up by the World Customs Organization to prevent the spread of illegal drugs. (Yonhap)
