- Investigators say the officers found a large amount of powder in the freight of the ship.
- Investigators say the cargo had been transported to a warehouse in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, by way of a company based in the Kanto region.
- The Metropolitan Police Department arrested four Chinese nationals on suspicion of smuggling the drug and committing other offenses.
NHK has learned that Japanese customs officers seized around 700 kilograms of an illegal stimulant drug in March from the cargo of a ship that arrived at Tokyo port.
Seized cargo
Investigators say the officers found a large amount of powder in the freight of the ship. The vessel had arrived in Tokyo port from the United Arab Emirates via China.
The powder had reportedly been concealed inside stacked boards.
700kg of illegal stimulant
Analysis confirmed the substance is an illegal stimulant. It is the second largest haul of the drug to be confiscated in Japan. Its street value is estimated to be about 43 billion yen, or around 310 million dollars.
Investigators say the cargo had been transported to a warehouse in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo, by way of a company based in the Kanto region, which includes the capital and surrounding area.
Possible suspect
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested four Chinese nationals on suspicion of smuggling the drug and committing other offenses. It believes an international drug-smuggling ring is behind the incident.
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Source: NHK
