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Stimulant drug seizures
approach record levels
"The volume of stimulant drugs smuggled into Japan
and seized by police nation-wide in the first three months
of the year totaled 650 kg, almost equaling the largest
amount ever confiscated in a full year, the National Police
Agency said Saturday. The high volume reflects large
seizures in Shimane and Kanagawa prefectures, the NPA said
in a report. The record amount seized in a full year was
650.8 kg in 1996.
The report said police in Shimane, Hiroshima and Chiba
prefectures jointly seized 101 kg of amphetamine stimulants
smuggled into Shimane Prefecture by a Honduras-registered
ship Jan. 7. Police in Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures
also jointly seized 202.6 kg of amphetamines Feb. 1 smuggled
into Yokohama port from China on a large cargo ship. Osaka
police seized 210 kg March 31.
The NPA, which has cut off several drug supply routes since
last summer, said the actual amount of drugs smuggled into
Japan is probably more than estimates made by police because
street prices of stimulants have fallen in recent months,
suggesting an increase in supply. According to police,
almost all stimulant drugs that find their way into Japan
are made in China. In most cases, Japanese criminal gangs
smuggle them in by freighter after establishing supply
routes with Chinese groups. An NPA affiliate estimates that
there are about 2.2 million users of stimulant drugs in
Japan. The current street value of stimulant drugs is
about Y2,000 per 0.03 gram, about one-fifth what it was
20 years ago."
Japan Times,
April 4, 1999
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