Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency

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SEJONG, Sept. 17 (Yonhap) -- South 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 all of last year, according to data compiled by the Korea Customs Service.

The customs agency has been working closely with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to inspect imported medications as part of efforts to protect public health from unauthorized products.

While Wegovy and Mounjaro are prohibited from being brought into the country in travelers' hand luggage, a growing number of South Koreans have attempted to purchase the medications from neighboring countries due to price differences.

"The customs agency conducts X-ray scans and baggage inspections and returns or discards products that do not meet import requirements," the agency said.

"If violations go beyond a failure to meet import requirements and constitute offenses such as smuggling, we take stern measures, including investigations and punishment," it added.

This file photo taken on Aug. 18, 2026, shows Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

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Illegal imports of weight-loss drugs top 5,000 through Aug.: customs agency

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世宗，9月17日（韩联社）——韩国海关周四表示，试图非法进口减肥药（如Wegovy和Mounjaro）的数量比去年同期激增至5000多起。

据韩国海关统计的数据显示，今年1月至8月，共查获5030起通过海外直接购买和其他非法渠道非法进口减肥药的案件，远远超过去年全年的1189起。

海关部门一直与食品药品安全部密切合作，检查进口药品，以保护公众健康免受未经授权产品的侵害。

虽然 Wegovy 和 Mounjaro 被禁止作为旅客的手提行李携带入境，但由于价格差异，越来越多的韩国人试图从邻国购买这些药物。

“海关部门会进行X光扫描和行李检查，并将不符合进口要求的产品退回或丢弃，”该机构表示。

“如果违规行为超出未能​​满足进口要求，构成走私等犯罪行为，我们将采取严厉措施，包括调查和处罚，”声明补充道。

这张摄于2026年8月18日的资料照片显示的是位于首尔以西的仁川国际机场。（韩联社）

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海关机构称，截至8月，非法进口减肥药数量超过5000件。