Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung visited Jeju International Airport on the 30th to inspect efforts to block the inflow of illegal drugs from overseas.
Recently, ketamine was found on a Jeju beach, and as concerns grew over drug trafficking in the region, including meth smuggling using aircraft, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said the on-site inspection was to determine whether the drug-blocking system is working properly. The joint inspection that day included relevant agencies such as the Jeju Metropolitan Police Agency, Jeju Provincial Government, Jeju Customs, and Korea Airports Corporation.
On the day, the Minister toured the Jeju Airport situation room and customs screening area to examine the drug import-blocking system. Noting that criminal organizations are highly likely to attempt to expand drug distribution networks by exploiting the transitional period of national system reforms, such as the launch of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, the Minister emphasized that the highest level of alert should be maintained on the ground.
The Minister said, "Drugs are a deadly crime that destroys our community," and urged, "So that Jeju, the gateway for tourism, does not become a transit point for overseas drug distribution, relevant agencies should join forces to respond actively and without gaps."