SEOUL: The amount of meth seized by South Korean customs decreased in the first half of 2015 from a year earlier due mainly to China’s stepped-up anti-drug drive, customs officials said Thursday.
The amount of methamphetamine impounded during the period dropped to 7,933 grams from 9,536 grams, down 16.8 percent according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service (KCS).
The number of meth trafficking cases, meanwhile, soared to 52 from 11.
The KCS attributed the decline in the amount seized to China’s strong anti-drug policy, where smuggling, producing or trafficking more than 1 kilogram of opium or 50 g of heroin or methamphetamine is subject to capital punishment.
China has been one of the major bases for drug trafficking in South Korea.
The total amount seized and the number of drug trafficking cases decreased during the January-June period this year compared with the same period last year.
The KCS said it discovered 155 cases dealing with narcotic drugs during the first six months, down 11.9 percent from last year.
The amount of the confiscated drugs, weighing 13,926 g, represents a 35.5 percent decrease.
