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© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Record amount of stimulants seized in Shizuoka; 7 Chinese men arrested
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SauloJpn
So, maybe soon, will we read about these people's bosses being jailed?
SaikoPhysco
Police were probably tipped of by a rival organization.
Strangerland
This black market exists because of the illegal status of the drugs.
At least in Japan, the black market does not generate so much public violence.
If only people would make sure to limit their intoxication to the approved list of intoxicants, this problem would not exist. When will people learn to become alcoholics instead of junkies?
Ganbare Japan!
Good job authorities. Keep these dangerous stimulant drugs out of Japan.
jiji Xx
supply and demand..... this won't change anything in the wider scheme
BeerDeliveryGuy
Interesting that it was being smuggled in through the pacific side, rather than the Sea of Japan side.
Maritime drug busts are generally in the Niigata, Toyama, or Tottori, Shimane area.
Maybe they thought they were being smart taking the long route.
trinklets2
I wish this kind of drug confiscation and arrest is happens to my home country too. Ditto for the Jpolicemen and whoever were instrumental in this bust.
Alfie Noakes
If you mean the yakuza bosses who import and sell this stuff, no.
Deadforgood
Did you know that the Japanese invented crystal meth to keep soldiers awake during WWII? Not trying to say they should be allowed here, but your criticism of the west is awfully silly.
sourpuss
This facetious point makes no sense. As if adding to the number of substances people can abuse would somehow improve the situation.
Lol
OssanAmerica
No that's not true.
"A Japanese chemist first synthesized methamphetamine—also called meth, crank, crystal meth or speed—from another stimulant in 1893. Methamphetamine was used early on as a medical treatment for narcolepsy, asthma and as a weight-loss drug. During World War II, the Allies and Axis powers both used the drug to keep troops awake. After the war, meth use increased dramatically, even after it was outlawed by the United States in 1970."
https://www.history.com/topics/crime/history-of-meth
NihonRyu
Perhaps Japan should execute them as the Chinese have done to Japanese smugglers for far smaller quantities.
Joe Blow
Excellent idea!
nandakandamanda
The story says the stuff came from Hong Kong, i.e. China.
Where was it made, and how did it get to Hong Kong?
Travelmaster
They are not afraid to be arrested and punished in Japan. Taxes are used to punish them in Japan. In order to avoid wasting tax, let's repatriate the drug of evidence and theirs with the protest of the Japanese government. Of course, the Chinese government will punish them without hesitation(It will be a felony in China). And criminal organizations will be afraid of smuggling of illegal drugs.
macv
When I read about estimated street prices of drugs in Japan I felt like commenting so here goes - I lived in Roppongi from '78 until '85 so my data is from the streets. In the 80's a gram of coke was as high as Y35,000 for was a full gram of decent quality. After that the average price for a gram gradually decreased to about 15,000. Up until 15 years ago it was 12,000, the bags were not full grams and quality was dropping. Nowadays price is 10-15,000 for fake crap coke that barely fills the bottom of a gram bag. Use at your own risk.
Deadforgood
Ok sure.
My point was, the Japanese invented it. Whether it was for dieting or keeping soldiers awake is beyond my point made at the original poster who was criticizing the west. Seems you failed to recognize the point I was making as well.
Deadforgood
Regardless, never done meth, and have no interest. Disgusting drug with disgusting repercussions...not sure why its so popular in Japan though. Maybe its cheaper than other drugs?
Deadforgood
What, like speed or adderall then?
Deadforgood
Or is speed a methamphetamine? Sorry, I'm pretty stupid when it comes to this sort of thing...not a chemist!
nandakandamanda
Most of what washes up in Japan seems to be crystal meth, called various names like shabu, ice or 'S'.
Luddite
They never say what they are, just 'stimulants'.
sir_bentley28
I feel like I should be reading this with an 1920's radio voice. Because the news seems of that time!
1738Kwaaa!!
Definitely a tip off.
vinarius@pm.catv.ne.jp
There are many types of Chinese.............just like Japanese. Crime is crime. Why nobody in Japan is reporting on Japanese drug trafficking ???.
Deadforgood
I assume the feds caught the Japanese distributors, and gave them a small plea deal for ratting out the Chinese mules. Perhaps. That's how I assume most of these stings go down anyways. Would be quite irritating to find out you got sold out for more time on the same crime...
Deadforgood
Yea, but who knows if any of this info can be verified.
Wesley
Because this is Japan. china makes a big deal of arresting, torturing and murdering Japanese nationals by claiming them as "spies"...without proper trial or proof. Why doesn't any chinese speak up for the Japanese?
I say execute these drug traffickers. Japanese taxpayers shouldn't have to support their free meals in jail.
obladi
I also wonder why the (presumably Japanese) distributors were not arrested.
Wesley
Why do we all presume the distributors are Japanese and not the hundreds of chinese in Japan?
Do you think if Japanese drug dealers were arrested in china, the chinese distributors will also be punished?
1glenn
It has been reported that the largest importer of opioids into the U.S. are Chinese.
badman
Stimulants is very vague. Is it coke, meth or ecstasy? Something else?
OssanAmerica
You could have made your point without posting totally erroneous information.
And how does "keep the drugs out of Japan" translate to "the West" when the article says the perpetrators were Chinese?
Chip Star
I'm confident that no Japanese people were involved because the yak allows Chinese people to freely run illicit operations.
Chip Star
To be fair, the post was not totally erroneous given it was Japanese chemists who invented meth.
Meth is extremely popular in Japan. If I had to guess why, I'd say it's poor sleep hygiene coupled with needing to look busy at work for 16 hours a day.
Strangerland
Removing the black market would not improve the situation?
What a weird stance to talk. I think all of our situations would be improved if there were no black market. Black markets end up in violence, and an underground economy that is not taxed or regulated.
I'm not sure how you qualify 'improving the situation', but I certainly think that getting rid of black markets and the organized crime that crops up around them is most definitely an improvement of the situation. I question what your objectives in life are, if you feel otherwise.
nandakandamanda
Meantime another 1.6 tons found in Australia. From Bangkok it says, but the writing on the packages is Chinese. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-48551669
Is this coincidence or part of a worldwide push?