Drug smugglers try their luck at regional airports

Yaba, a pill made of methamphetamine and caffeine, confiscated by prosecutors in Busan at Gimhae International Airpot in December last year. [BUSAN DISTRICT PROSECUTORS' OFFICE]

More drug smugglers are coming to Korea under eased Covid flight restrictions.

Two people in their thirties who arrived in Korea at Gimhae International Airport in South Gyeongsang on March 25 were found carrying drugs, according to the Busan District Prosecutor’s Office on Friday.

The duo flew in from Thailand carrying around 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) of methamphetamine and 239 pills of ecstasy taped inside their pants.

Another smuggler from the Southeast Asian country in his 30s was found hiding 700 grams of meth in his underwear.

Smugglers are rerouting to Gimhae International Airport instead of Incheon International Airport in hopes of facing a less strict entry process.

“Other regional airports are quiet, but Gimhae Airport is seeing more smuggling attempts,” said a spokesperson for the Korea Customs Service.

The southern airport is a favorable destination for smugglers since there are many flights connecting to Southeast Asia, and they’re trying to evade the strict security at Incheon Airport, the spokesperson added.

In February, border authorities at Gimhae Airport caught three Malaysians carrying 7 kilograms of meth.

Three Thais sneaking in 19,369 pills of yaba, or a mixture of meth and caffeine, were busted at Gimhae Airport in December last year. The yaba was worth 1.9 billion won ($1.46 million).

The Gimhae Airport Customs strengthened procedures by forming a specialized unit composed of experts in related fields, said a spokesperson for Gimhae Airport Customs.

“We will make close investigations to block out drugs brought in by travelers and luggage from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Malaysia,” added the customs authority.

BY LEE SU-MIN [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]