S. Korea, Japan agree to enhance cooperation on combating drug smuggling, customs affairs

▲ South Korea and Japan hold a customs affairs meeting in Tokyo on May 22, 2024, in this photo provided by the Korea Customs Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

S Korea-Japan-drugs

S. Korea, Japan agree to enhance cooperation on combating drug smuggling, customs affairs

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Customs agencies of South Korea and Japan have agreed to strengthen their cooperation on the crackdown on and the prevention of drug smuggling, Seoul's customs agency said Thursday.

The consensus was made during the meeting between Korea Customs Service (KCS) Commissioner Ko Kwang-hyo and Kazuhiko Ejima, head of the customs bureau at the Japanese finance ministry, in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to the KCS.

The two nations discussed sharing information regarding illicit drug trafficking and other transborder crimes, and vowed to work more closely on the crackdown on and countermeasures against smuggling attempts in response to recently growing drug trafficking via ships and container cargo.

They also agreed to expand cooperation on preliminary checks of country of origin and other customs affairs under the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the KCS said.

RCEP is one of the world's biggest free trade agreements, with its 15 member nations accounting for around 30 percent of the global gross domestic product, population and trade volume. It is the first FTA that involves both South Korea and Japan.

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