Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency
Korea's customs agency said Thursday the number of attempted illegal imports of weight-loss medications, such as Wegovy and Mounjaro, surged from a year earlier to exceed 5,000. A total of 5,030 cases involving the illegal import of weight-loss drugs through overseas direct purchases and other illicit channels were detected in the January-August period, far exceeding the 1,189 cases tallied for…
Korea's customs agency reported on Thursday that illegal imports of weight-loss medications, including Wegovy and Mounjaro, surpassed 5,000 in the first eight months of the year. This marked a significant increase from the previous year, with 1,189 cases reported for all of 2022. The data, compiled by the Korea Customs Service, revealed a sharp rise in attempted illegal imports through overseas direct purchases and other illicit channels.
The agency has been collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to strengthen inspections of imported medications as part of their commitment to safeguard public health from unauthorized products. Despite the ban on bringing Wegovy and Mounjaro into the country in passengers' hand luggage, an increasing number of Koreans have been purchasing these medications from neighboring countries due to price disparities.
The customs agency employs X-ray scans and baggage inspections, returning or discarding any products that do not comply with import requirements. If violations extend beyond mere import requirement breaches, further action may be taken.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
