{
  "id": 3676649,
  "title": "Customs agency steps up controlled deliveries to nab drug smugglers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/customs-agency-steps-up-controlled-deliveries-to-nab-drug-smugglers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T05:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/law-crime/20260827/customs-agency-steps-up-controlled-deliveries-to-nab-drug-smugglers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Korea Customs Service (KCS) has intensified its efforts to combat drug smuggling by employing a novel approach of controlled deliveries, leading to the seizure of 5.6 kilograms of illicit narcotics in 10 separate instances involving international mail shipments from April to July. This achievement was made possible through the implementation of a dual-layer drug screening system, established in collaboration with Korea Post in April. Under this system, international mail that passes through initial inspections at the border undergoes an additional level of scrutiny at one of five major postal distribution centers located throughout the country. A key element of the agency's success in apprehending all suspects was the strategic use of controlled deliveries, a covert investigative technique where law enforcement officers allow intercepted parcels to reach their intended destinations while being closely monitored. By utilizing international mail to maintain the normal delivery process without alerting drug traffickers, investigators were able to identify and locate actual recipients of the contraband, ultimately resulting in the arrest of all individuals involved in the illicit activities.",
  "summary": "The Korea Customs Service (KCS) intercepted 5.6 kilograms of illicit drugs in 10 separate cases involving international mail from April to July through a newly established secondary screening network, the agency said Thursday. In particular, it used controlled deliveries, a covert investigative technique, to track the shipments, resulting in the arrest of all suspects involved. The new method…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Customs agency busts 10 drug smuggling attempts through secondary screening",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/customs-agency-busts-10-drug-smuggling-attempts-through-secondary",
        "published": "2026-08-27T02:30:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Customs agency steps up controlled deliveries to nab drug smugglers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/customs-agency-steps-up-controlled-deliveries-to-nab-drug-smugglers-3678014",
        "published": "2026-08-27T06:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}