158 kg of meth bound for Japan seized in Thailand

Just say NO to drugs.

People should have a choice. Legalize all drugs and cut out the middlemen, the pushers, the cartels.

Just say NO to drugs.

Almost saw a drug bust in downtown Osaka the other day-more drugs around than one would think...

There is probably no big enough market in Japan for dangerous drugs like ice. This party drug is basically unknown in Japan. Possibly it was going to be kept for the Olympics for foreign partyers by Thai drug cartel.

Any evidence at all for the above statements?

Allow me

In 2013, 12,951 people were arrested in Japan on drug-related charges. Most were charged with the possession or use of stimulants broadly called methamphetamine. It’s virtually impossible to gauge from this figure how many people in the country are currently struggling with an addiction, but the health ministry says the number of arrests is just the tip of the iceberg.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/08/23/lifestyle/dealing-addiction-japans-drug-problem/

30 years ago

Indeed, crystal methamphetamine is already the drug of choice in East Asia, where marijuana and cocaine are scarce and heroin is all but unheard of on the street. In Japan, the most lucrative market for methamphetamine, police say they annually arrest more than 20,000 people for using and trafficking in the drug, nearly all of which is smuggled in from Taiwan and South Korea.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-14-mn-246-story.html

Clearly, the drug has an interesting and long history with Japan

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4wb78m/from-kamikaze-pilots-to-footy-players-heres-a-short-history-of-ice

@ Goldorak

Not sure Japan was the shipment's final destination tbh. If i were based in thailand and wanted to send 150kgs of Ice to say oz (massive market), i'd send it first to Japan where customs checks are probably not as thorough then to oz hoping my now J treadmills wont raise too many questions through customs (at least less than the same treadmills directly from bkk, bogota etc).

Well argued. There is probably no big enough market in Japan for dangerous drugs like ice. This party drug is basically unknown in Japan. Possibly it was going to be kept for the Olympics for foreign partyers by Thai drug cartel. But, most likely bound for a Western Nation.

sensei258:

Wonder what kind of sentence he will get in Thailand.

Bangkok Hilton. You would NOT want to be in this guys shoes.

Not sure Japan was the shipment's final destination tbh. If i were based in thailand and wanted to send 150kgs of Ice to say oz (massive market), i'd send it first to Japan where customs checks are probably not as thorough then to oz hoping my now J treadmills wont raise too many questions through customs (at least less than the same treadmills directly from bkk, bogota etc).

Same happens in the us and all over the world tbh, smugglers often use 'clean' (or 'friendly', not as thorough etc) stopovers as a decoy.

I'm sure there are many other meth smugglers out there only a few get caught.

Asia is large producing meth countries and Japan is right in middle.

Japan has to be proactive and fight it, drug treatment instead of let go from jail. It will get worst addicts cannot stop.

HenryK - Why bring in that much ice if you can't sell it?

What makes you think they can't sell it? There is a lot more to Japan than just the cherry blossoms and sushi you see on the brochures.

It's a worldwide epidemic Japan is no exception.

Why bring in that much ice if you can't sell it?

I wonder why illicit drug usage is on the rise in Japan?

Is it actually on the rise? Or are you just reading more stories that has led to you to have the impression it's on the rise?

If the drugs are stopped before they get to Japan, we get to know what they are - in this case, meth.

If a celebrity gets caught with them IN japan, they're a mystery "stimulant".

Is that about correct?

No, not really. Celebrity status is irrelevant. And while the location in which they are found has relevance, it's not because there is a single 'deep state' like entity controlling the news in both situations. It will be a difference in how different countries disperse information. Japan generally categorizes all stimulants under the term stimulants. Thailand is more clear on what exactly the drugs are. There isn't a single entity choosing how the laws in both Japan and Thailand work, nor on how the reporting will happen.

You've tried to make a connection that almost definitely does not exist.

A tipoff led the Central Narcotics Bureau on Tuesday to a consignment of two treadmills at a shipping company. Sending such heavy and bulky exercise equipment via costly air freight to Japan raised suspicions

Next time the meth makers will have the meth put into something other than treadmills and have it put on a ship instead of a plane.

I wonder why illicit drug usage is on the rise in Japan?

Stress.

OK, so let me check I've got this right.

If the drugs are stopped before they get to Japan, we get to know what they are - in this case, meth.

If a celebrity gets caught with them IN japan, they're a mystery "stimulant".

You're trying to compare apples with oranges. The meth was found by Thai authorities before being sent to Japan.

OK, so let me check I've got this right.

If the drugs are stopped before they get to Japan, we get to know what they are - in this case, meth.

If a celebrity gets caught with them IN japan, they're a mystery "stimulant".

Is that about correct?

I'm glad they caught that shipment, though. Meth is an evil bastard.

Because safer recreational drugs are illegal, people will do the worst of them just because they may be able to get them.

The authorities made it hard to even enjoy alcohol for many people, including myself, with overzealous drunk driving rules. Even dancing is restricted. And they are cracking down on smoking. Something is going to give and yeah, it could be a meth epidemic. Not even Japanese are actual robots.

Well done, Thai authorities. This dangerous drug could have killed countless people. With the Olympics just around the corner , and 10 Million partying visitors expected to flock to Japan in that time, its wise to be vigilant.

Glad to see that they caught the guy. And I wonder why illicit drug usage is on the rise in Japan?

Innocent till proven guilty :P

The man was arrested on suspicion of attempting to export illicit drugs. He denies the charges.

Sending such heavy and bulky exercise equipment via costly air freight to Japan raised suspicions

Thanks for the tip.

Wonder what kind of sentence he will get in Thailand.