4 Japanese arrested for drug smuggling in Iran

Probably false but in retaliation for Japan refusing to buy Iranian oil.

I know I know all the druggies here will cry crocodile years for their Japanese pushers with Iranian connections, but I do hope and pray they get the death penalty!! Just say no to drugs does not seem to work, right??

If it's true then let them face Iranian justice.

People who knowingly go into a country that has harsh anti-drug laws to purchase or sell drugs are idiots imo.

Ah the war on drugs, what a fantastic success story. In another 100 years history will say? Colossal waist of money.

ShermanJUN. 25, 2012 - 07:16AM JST Probably false but in retaliation for Japan refusing to buy Iranian oil.

That wouldn't surprise me tbh.

Probably false but in retaliation for Japan refusing to buy Iranian oil.

Really? You think Japanese folks don't smuggle? Please. There have been more than a few idiots in the past few years who've done this from various countries and been caught. I don't think Iran would waste its time with Japan. The US and backpackers? Yes. Japan? Why bother?

Why anyone would even go to Iran in today's geopolitical climate is beyond me, but smuggling drugs from there or any other country that openly declares death to drug traffickers is just plain stupid.

As this story develops I'm certain we'll be hearing that all four of them "were requested to carry the suitcases by someone as a favor" and that they "had no idea what was inside."

Probably false but in retaliation for Japan refusing to buy Iranian oil.

I dislike the Iranian regime as much as anyone, but as wontond pointed out, Iran is hardly a destination of choice for Japanese is it? Or anyone in todays political climate.

As this story develops I'm certain we'll be hearing that all four of them "were requested to carry the suitcases by someone as a favor" and that they "had no idea what was inside."

They will have been in Iran trying to get money for a friend from her ex, and the exes chauffeur will have asked them to carry a suitcase full of "books" to somewhere like Malaysia and given them a cellphone for someone to call them on arrival.

If they are innocent the government should throw its full weight behind this. If they are not - good luck in Irans jails. Probably slightly less comfortable than the nurses cell in Malaysia.

Falsely arresting Japanese citizens would hardly be the way to retaliate and Japan has gotten special conciliation to keep buying Iranian oil so that idea is weak. If there is a market people will try to fill it - some folks have strange risk/reward evaluation mechanisms.

Hang em high.

How dumb can you be, don't these people know, it is known and basic common sense, just basic, anytime you go to these countries, trafficking drugs, you are gambling with your life 100%! And the bigger question is: why on earth out of all countries would they go especially to Iran and do this?? They must've been high to begin with. Dumb, dumb, dumb!

You do the crime...

How insane do you have to be to try to smuggle drugs into/out of Iran? Maybe these bone heads were ignorant of there strict laws...but ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law

I do hope and pray they get the death penalty

It's thinking like this that make the world a crappy place to live in. I can handle being doing drugs. I can handle people being a menace to society.

What I can't handle is illogical thinking. How is the death penalty in any way befitting to the crime. Any crime for that matter.

Lots of comments about "execute them", "if they do the crime..." etc. but we're forgetting an important point. Are they actually guilty of what they are being accused of?

Does Iran have what we would consider a fair judicial system?

yeah, really

The arm-chair JTers have it all figured out and the suspects are worthy of execution!

Like those US backpackers who were held for yrs because they were "spies"? Like in any other country they don't target unknowing tourists to smuggle their drugs by a) just putting it in their suitcase unawares, b) even asking someone to take an omiyage to a "friend"? And like often unbelievably naive J ppl wouldn't be a perfect target for such a crime, as they are probably often ignored by authorities?

Or they might be Yaks, who gnrly wouldn't do business w/o a good plan of safety, i.e., they are caught up in some territorial dispute between corrupt different branches of the gov/ corrupt and non-corrupt branches.

Or maybe they are just regular guys trying to smuggle, in which case they certainly are stupid and/or desperate for some reason. But execution? Just give them a good scare and send em on their way...

i guess "if" there is a next time , get a lonely planet book of the country!

Why arrest people for smuggling drugs outof the country? They ought to be encouraged.

This is Iran. We'll never know what happened here. I am sure there are wonderful people in Iran... Just the extremist militant religious organization running the government has the ability to do anything or charge you with anything.

Oh well. So what are the penalties? Death? Lashing?

I like the old days when they'd strap em on a lame horse at the edge of the desert with water dangling in front of the horse. Put those drug smugglers on the horse with the black hoodie over their heads and give that horse a good smack.

Let God decide if you should live or die.

Bad place to try that, bunch of morons.

If they went there for that purpose, then that's too bad, especially since Iran's drug-smuggling laws are well-known for being Draconian(as Indonesia, Thailand, and others are).

If they are innocent, then they're in serious need of help.

The so-called "war on drugs" is nothing but a global-scale disaster. Prohibition doesn't reduce usage, but it certainly enriches the criminal organisations and makes more people lose personal freedom, in a similar way as Sharia/Puritanical law.

@Mirai Hayashi

You do the crime...

How insane do you have to be to try to smuggle drugs into/out of Iran? Maybe these bone heads were ignorant of there strict laws...but ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law

Agree with you as usual. Most of these morons think they can go outside Japan and will be given immunity and be treated like kings and queens. Look at the nurse sentenced to death in Malaysia. They know what they are doing. They take the risk even though they are well aware of the consequences. Drug money is more important to them than life. I have zero sympathy for Drug smuggling SCUM. But honestly, I'm against the Death penalty, It's nothing but state-sanctioned murder. Just lock 'em up permanently. Let 'em rot in prison. Executing them won't change a darn thing, people keep smuggling drugs, right? The Death Penalty is not a crime deterrent. Been proven over and over.

@JoshuYaki

This is Iran. We'll never know what happened here. I am sure there are wonderful people in Iran... Just the extremist militant religious organization running the government has the ability to do anything or charge you with anything.

I'm close friends with a professor of the University of Tehran for many years now. Wonderful honest person. There is no doubt in my mind there are good people and bad people everywhere. Unfortunately the current situation is not helping and the good people are suffering unnecessarily. Let's hope and pray for them. I'm never been a deep religious person myself but add the word "extremist religious fanatics" to anything and you will have nothing but wars and deaths.

@SHERMAN They are Japanese so they are not guilty? And Iran is only having a propaganda? What if the suspects are Koreans? Chinese? South east Asians? Admit it , Japan is not perfect Especially in these times. I am against death penalty, but I think they should be punished even if they are Japanese.

Despite executing hundreds of people each year for drug trafficking and possession, Iran's hardline stand against narcotics conceals a lucrative business smuggling heroin, opium and methamphetamine, spearheaded by the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, the supposed defenders of the Islamic Revolution, indulges in hypocrisy. I know, I know same as the CIA...I hope Justice and Mercy will prevail...

My guess is they have been doing this with the tacit knowledge of the authorities for years. For some reason their free pass just ran out.

sherman:

Probably false but in retaliation for Japan refusing to buy Iranian oil.

Yeah right, of course, no Japanese would turn to illegal activities. What next? Yakuza are just a m!ssundaztood bunch.

Whenever there is a large amount of money involved, youll always find some people silly enough to try stuff like this. The amount of people executed in South East Asian as well as other countries for drug-related activities has been no deterrent. Its a real pity that we can find no other solution.

If they still have their heads in 6 months I'll be surprised.

I have read that Japanese out of work, down on their luck have been recruited in Japan to go overseas & haul back some drugs, but why on earth some try it is beyond me......................

If they got caught they need to pay the piper, if they are being framed I hope the J-embassy helps them.

Those that think this is related to the oil thing need to put a little more thought into things

Persian Mayaku G-Men: "Minor change of plans... You are getting get the death penalty. روز خوبي داشته باشيد!"

http://www.hawaiireporter.com/us-hikers-jailed-in-iran-to-marry-in-california/123

I do not believe anything coming out of Iran. Hope Japanese government is already starting a negotiation for releasing these Japanese.

As I listed above, three American college students were jailed for no reason (spying?) and faced death sentences. Thanks to Mrs. H. Clinton's effort, they have been released and are now back to normal life in US. Do I believe Iranian report? Heck No!

Cases like Govinda Prasad Mainali, Abubakar Awudu Suraj and Karina Garcia show that Japan has no claim to a superior justice system.

Anyway, there are no grounds to doubt what was reported, that they were caught with illegal drugs. Japanese also do commit crimes. It is plain racism to automatically assume the opposite.

In Japan, obey Japanese laws. In Iran, obey Iranian laws. Simple. They didn't get it, now they pay. If Japan wants to punish foreign criminals of Japan according Japanese laws, they can do so with the assumption that Japanese criminals abroad will be dealt according to local laws. If they are harsh, too bad. They knew better.

Anyway, they were probably just mules. They took all the risk with none of the benefits of sales. Just sad.

I wonder what kind of persons they are? Are they yakuza? or Are they just another tourists? Sometimes some idiot tourists are used as smuggler with strange suitcases or bags given from really strangers in their country.

If they are really bad guys or real professional drug smugglers, they would have to obey the Iranian law, But if regular tourists somehow were used to carry illegal drugs in suitcases given from someone and if they did not know what was in, J-embassy would have to do something about it because they are not real smugglers for dark business.

@DoLittleBeLate

Cases like Govinda Prasad Mainali, Abubakar Awudu Suraj and Karina Garcia show that Japan has no claim to a superior justice system.

Anyway, there are no grounds to doubt what was reported, that they were caught with illegal drugs. Japanese also do commit crimes. It is plain racism to automatically assume the opposite.

In Japan, obey Japanese laws. In Iran, obey Iranian laws. Simple. They didn't get it, now they pay. If Japan wants to punish foreign criminals of Japan according Japanese laws, they can do so with the assumption that Japanese criminals abroad will be dealt according to local laws. If they are harsh, too bad. They knew better.

Anyway, they were probably just mules. They took all the risk with none of the benefits of sales. Just sad.

I'd give you 100 + thumbs up if I could, buddy. Well said.

Just goes to show how some people lack any form of common sense. Of all places to smuggle drugs from, why would you choose Iran?

Amidalism, quote: Just goes to show how some people lack any form of common sense. Of all places to smuggle drugs from, why would you choose Iran?

Er... they have well-established smuggling routes, protection, and plenty of good quality reasonably-priced drugs there?

According to Amnesty International, the Islamic republic last year executed at least 360 people, three-quarters of them for drugs offenses.

Holy Crap! They must be terrified. I hope they were doing it for their own reason. It would be terrible if they were forced or mislead in someone.

Cause JP is not coming to the rescue. Like that woman that got caught a while ago. JP gov. didnt move a finger.

Japan and the Japanese hate any negative press about their people and country on a whole. They tend to want the rest of the World to believe that Japan is an Eden of Politness and Honesty. These 4 individuals, rightly or wrongly, have cast a small negative smear on Japan's reputation. Therefore I believe that the Japanese overall, other than the families involved, could care less if they are innocent or not. Ware ware Nihonjin.

Completely naive or nuts

It is amazing to learn most Japanese posts here believe what Iranian government is saying. It is too early to conclude anything. Remember what they have done to innocent 3 Amercan college students who were captured for no reason.

They might be Japanese spouses of Iranian citizens.

Ware = broken piece? A deliberate jab, danalawton1?

Any excuse by anybody caught smuggling drugs is very unlikely. Accepting a package from stranger prior to flight etc. is so old-fashioned trick, it's amazing that anybody would fall for that anymore. Just remember the excuses the Japanese woman gave when caught in Singapore! I mean, seriously? I realize that in Japan and in everything related to Japan it's polite to believe everything you're told, but that doesn't make it anywhere near sensible.

Some guy here is always giving out Darwinism awards?? I would second the nomination for any idiot fool who would go out of their way to visit Persia, as our Iranian, Persian amigos call their Islamic Republic, and say hey, if these 4 idiot Japanese Darwin Award seekers want to get their block heads chopped off, great! Go do it out in Iran, do us the favor where they do not mess around with drug dealers, and save us a whole lot of $$$, right??

Global, please3 INNOCENT American kids?? Sure, 3 CIA spies who were pretending to be just HIKING too close to the Iranian border from the Iraqi side?? NO AMERICANS go to Iraq unless they are in the US military or working for the US government, etc...Americans do not just go hiking around Iraq and then end up by accident in IRAN, so please spare us all here the Rush Limbaugh propaganda,and back to idiot Japanese wanting lots of $$$, yes, keep going to Iran and if they catch, guess who will become poster boys or girls for their anti drug campaigns??

Jesse if you can not understand how the DEATH PENALTY keeps horrible drug mules, drug pushers from poisoning our children, our adults our future our society, man oh man, let me try and put it real real simple, back in LA, NYC etc..drug pushers are a dime a dozen, they get you hooked on their drugs, you go out and steal to have $$$ to go get your next fix, but hey, guess what in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Singapore, well, they catch you, they chop your head off, and in Saudi they will do it in public and sometime in China too, so young folk think, me do drugs?? Me want to make $$$ from drugs?? Me get caught by Saudi, Chinese, Iranian etc..police, me get head chopped right quick, OK?? But go back to the USA, Mexico etc..who is afraid, YOU AND ME, because the drug gangs have too much power and the USA, Mexico etc..are way too soft on drug users, drug dealers etc..

Why travel there in the first place? One has a place in Fuchu prison and probable exportation if drugs are found on you or knowledge of the same here in Japan. Years ago had a friend who got caught. NASTY!

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

And just what country do you think the discussion is about?

I've heard of naive but really now do you actually believe what you wrote?

Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty?

We are talking about Iran right?

I mean the people slamming the people caught with drugs... I know that Iran is as corrupt as an Italian Prime Minister but posters here are automatically assuming they are guilty. I remember the Iranians went into international waters and kidnapped Royal Marines and Royal Navy personnel, put them on display to make a point. Nothing surprises me with Iran any more... they can abduct people from anywhere and parade them on camera, claiming they committed such and such a crime - spying, drug smuggling... even insulting Islam.

There is more to this than it seems.

NO AMERICANS go to Iraq unless they are in the US military or working for the US government, etc...Americans do not just go hiking around Iraq and then end up by accident in IRAN, so please spare us all here the Rush Limbaugh propaganda,and back to idiot Japanese wanting lots of $$$, yes, keep going to Iran and if they catch, guess who will become poster boys or girls for their anti drug campaigns?

Wrong. Can you please stop with some of your dramatic posts. Some Americans have spouses from Iran and go on trips to visit family. You're comments are over the top and not needed nor adding anything to the discussion.

****@thunderbird2

Sadly we have no right to say or impose our thinking onto other countries regardless of how we feel about the country.

Sadly we have no right to say or impose our thinking onto other countries regardless of how we feel about the country.

Doesn't stop 99% of the JT posters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvOF9SI20JA&feature=relmfu

Elbuda MexicanoJun. 25, 2012 - 03:34PM JST

Global, please3 INNOCENT American kids?? Sure, 3 CIA spies who were pretending to be just HIKING too close to the Iranian border from the Iraqi side??

Their mothers are Iranians, Mexicano.

NO AMERICANS go to Iraq unless they are in the US military or working for the US government, etc...Americans do not just go hiking around Iraq

As you can see Youtube, their mothers are Iranians. They were too close to Iranian borders. But they were captured by Iraq army and dragged into Iran.

please spare us all here the Rush Limbaugh propaganda

Apparently, you have not read all my posts to understand me. I am the other side of Limbaugh, Mexicano. Thanks.

idiots thats all there is to say.

****Elbuda MexicanoJun. 25, 2012 - 03:34PM JST

Global, please3 INNOCENT American kids?? Sure, 3 CIA spies who were pretending to be just HIKING too close to the Iranian border from the Iraqi side?? NO AMERICANS go to Iraq unless they are in the US military or working for the US government, etc...Americans do not just go hiking around Iraq and then end up by accident in IRAN, so please spare us all here the Rush Limbaugh propaganda,and back to idiot Japanese wanting lots of $$$, yes, keep going to Iran and if they catch, guess who will become poster boys or girls for their anti drug campaigns??

Elbuda you seem to be an expert on trafficing. Don't blame american kids or CIA spies or Rush Limbaugh, look at your corrupt country. You should be the last person to post here. I suggest Japan check your papers!!

Yakuza contract job

Punitive sanctions for taking and smuggling drugs have been proven to be ineffective. Over 40 years now (more if we go back to the original League of Nations and then UN Convention on this) and not a dent made in consumption or production. and proceeds of this crime fund killings in Mexico, FARC, insurgencies across Asia etc etc.

So, whether these poor nihonjin are j-birds visiting the Irananian bloke they met in roppongi and being stitched up or are Yaks who didn't plan this thru and pay all the right people off is not really the issue. issue is they will be punished (maybe even killed) in the name of a lost cause. Made even more distasteful as there is an added religious element in Iran.

Iran does not mess around with the death penalty so this Mexicano knows to stay far far away from draconian countries but my guess these Japanese were mules, maybe with huge debts to the yakuza?? Happens all the time, South American jails are full of young Americans, Europeans and yes a few Japanese too!!