SEOUL, April 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea seized 180 kg of drugs in 302 smuggling cases at the border in the January-March quarter, customs office data showed Monday.
Compared to the same quarter of last year, the number of cases increased 13 percent while the total weight shrank 5 percent, according to the Korea Customs Service.
By smuggling route, the number and weight of narcotic seizures via travelers surged 128 percent and 78 percent each in the first quarter, driven by an expansion in large-scale methamphetamine detections of over 1 kg.
Both the number and weight of drug confiscations via international mail declined in double figures.
The number of narcotic detections via express cargo tumbled in double digits, while its weight added 5 percent.
The results indicated that smuggling routes, which had shifted toward international mail and express cargo during the pandemic, reverted to travelers, the customs office said.
By item, the number of methamphetamine seizures dropped 44 percent, but its weight jumped 46 percent to 123.9 kg.
It was attributable to large-scale smuggling attempts such as 24 kg via express cargo from Canada and 16 kg via a traveler from Thailand.
Both the number and weight of detections for cocaine and synthetic drugs declined, but 8 g of heroin for personal consumption was intercepted after it had not been seized in 2024 and 2025, signaling a diversification of the local drug market.
By country of origin, Asia logged the highest seizure weight of 114 kg, followed by North America with 48 kg, Africa with 9 kg and Europe with 8.3 kg. ■
