Seoul: South Korea’s customs authorities announced the seizure of over 70 kilograms of illegal drugs smuggled from Thailand as part of a joint operation with the Southeast Asian country. A total of 72.7 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated in 45 smuggling attempts during the fourth phase of a joint crackdown launched with Thai authorities from March to May, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

According to Ethiopian News Agency, since the operation began in 2022, the two countries have conducted four phases of joint enforcement, seizing a cumulative total of 385.5 kilograms of drugs in 156 cases. The amount seized is large enough to be used simultaneously by approximately 11.61 million people, the KCS stated.

During the latest operation, cannabis accounted for 21 kilograms of the total haul, a significant increase from just 0.8 kilogram detected during the third phase. Authorities attributed this surge to Thailand’s recent legalization of cannabis, which may have led to increased trafficking.

Lee Jong-wook, a senior official at the KCS, emphasized the need for continued bilateral and multilateral joint crackdowns with key countries. He highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation with relevant domestic and international agencies to eradicate drug smuggling at its roots.