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- First-ever anti-narcotics MOU signed between maritime border enforcement agencies - Aimed at fostering partnership through exchanging maritime drug crime intelligence, sharing surveillance program data, and leveraging each other’s drug control equipment and resources
On April 5 2023, the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) and the Korea Customs Service (KCS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the prevention and control of narcotics crimes in the maritime domain and ports .
This agreement is devised to fight drug trafficking at the source in the maritime domain, at a time when the country witnesses a rapid increase in drug-related crimes and most of the drugs distributed at home are being smuggled in from abroad. The MOU is the first-ever anti-narcotics agreement signed by the two agencies.
Given the recent maritime drug interdictions in other countries, Korea cannot rule out the possibility of large-scale illicit narcotrafficking on maritime routes and the two maritime enforcement agencies have decided to join hands to establish an effective maritime surveillance network to deter drug traffickers from using maritime means to transport.
Through this agreement, the two organizations have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the following four areas in order to solidify the cooperation system for preventing and cracking down on drug crimes.
1. Promoting intelligence exchanges on marine narcotics crimes 2. Enabling prompt sharing of data gathered from surveillance programs operated by each agency
3. Providing mutual support for available resources, such as drug detection dogs and drug detection equipment
4. Facilitating support for capacity building in relevant areas, such as investigation technique training.
“This MOU takes the cooperation the KCG and KCS have to the next level in the field of drug control. We will win the fight against drugs by intercepting illicit drugs at sea before they are smuggled into the country,” said KCG Commissioner General Jong-wook Kim.
“In order to block illicit maritime trafficking in narcotic drugs at the source, it is important to increase the effectiveness of crackdowns and promote synergies through information sharing and cooperation between the two agencies. We will take this MOU as an opportunity to make an all-out effort to restore Korea's status as a drug-free country," said KCS Commissioner Tae-sik Yoon.
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