| Pot-infused drink and other food products made with the drug are displayed at the Korea Customs Service's Incheon office on Tuesday. Yonhap |
By Jung Min-ho
The Korea Customs Service has reported a surge in marijuana smuggling from North America.
The Incheon office said Tuesday that its officials had seized 27 kilograms of marijuana over the past 11 months, a 337 percent surge from the same period last year.
After the U.S. state of California and Canada legalized recreational use of the drug earlier this year, the office discovered 182 illegal pot-smuggling cases, a 314 percent spike from last year.
“We have seized not just cannabis plants and powder but also jellies and chocolates made with the drug,” a customs official said.
The office also warned Korean residents and visitors to such countries not to smoke the drug, saying those who ignore the warning could face criminal charges when they return to Korea.