![Exterior of the Government Complex Daejeon. [Photo provided by the Korea Customs Service]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/04/29/20260429113332872713.jpg)
Exterior of the Government Complex Daejeon. [Photo provided by the Korea Customs Service]
The Korea Customs Service said Tuesday it is holding an Asia-Pacific drug enforcement experts workshop with the World Customs Organization through April 30 to strengthen international coordination against drug crime.
Experts from customs authorities across the region, including Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, are taking part, along with international organizations and European customs attachés based in China, the agency said. Participants will discuss ways to deepen cooperation by sharing joint-operation models and results by country, the latest drug-smuggling trends, and practices for using drug-detection dogs and drug analysis techniques.
The program includes a WCO capacity-building seminar and hands-on training on operating an information-sharing platform between countries. Customs officials said they expect the workshop to strengthen enforcement capabilities and improve the effectiveness of joint crackdowns.
This year, the agency plans to expand cooperation beyond existing partners by working more closely with Golden Triangle countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to tighten border-level interdiction networks.
The workshop will also serve as a pre-check for a Korea-Asia-Pacific joint anti-smuggling operation planned for the first half of this year, with the aim of refining cross-border coordination strategies, the agency said.
Because drug crime is a major transnational offense that can undermine borders, a Customs Service official said the workshop will be used to raise cooperation among Asia-Pacific customs authorities and translate it into results.
Experts from customs authorities across the region, including Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, are taking part, along with international organizations and European customs attachés based in China, the agency said. Participants will discuss ways to deepen cooperation by sharing joint-operation models and results by country, the latest drug-smuggling trends, and practices for using drug-detection dogs and drug analysis techniques.
The program includes a WCO capacity-building seminar and hands-on training on operating an information-sharing platform between countries. Customs officials said they expect the workshop to strengthen enforcement capabilities and improve the effectiveness of joint crackdowns.
This year, the agency plans to expand cooperation beyond existing partners by working more closely with Golden Triangle countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar to tighten border-level interdiction networks.
The workshop will also serve as a pre-check for a Korea-Asia-Pacific joint anti-smuggling operation planned for the first half of this year, with the aim of refining cross-border coordination strategies, the agency said.
Because drug crime is a major transnational offense that can undermine borders, a Customs Service official said the workshop will be used to raise cooperation among Asia-Pacific customs authorities and translate it into results.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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