[News Today] Drug smuggling route shifts to travelers

[LEAD]
Drug seizures at South Korea's borders hit a record high last year.

With enforcement tightened, smuggling networks are shifting tactics, relying more on travelers and new concealment methods.

[REPORT]
A suitcase belonging to a traveler who arrived at Jeju International Airport from Cambodia.

Customs officials have a hard time opening up the inside of the luggage.

"Is it soldered? Yes, all of it."

After a struggle, a black plastic bag is found.

Hidden inside is methamphetamine.

It weighs 3.6 kilograms, enough to be consumed by 120,000 people.

Until now, the main routes for drug smuggling were international mail and express cargo.

But this began to change from last year.

Last year, 50% of drug smuggling routes involved travelers, the highest percentage.

It's the first time to see travelers overtake mail or cargo.

Choi In-young / KBS reporter
It wasn't just suitcase that travelers used.
These appear to be ordinary sneakers.
In some cases, drugs were hidden under the insoles.

Regional airports are also emerging as new drug routes.

With clampdown focused at Incheon Airport, a balloon effect appears to have occurred.

Choi Moon-gi / Korea Customs Service
There have been diversion attempts to provincial airports, where clampdowns are believed to be weaker.

Last year, the amount of drugs detected at the border was a record amount of 3,318 kilograms.

The Korea Customs Service will set up an anti-narcotics response headquarters and analyze detection trends on a weekly basis.

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