Oshio's arrest throws spotlight on drug route to entertainers

Arrest warrants were issued on Dec 4 for Manabu Oshio, 31, and his former manager Ryohei Endo, 28, on charges of destruction of evidence, as well as an acquaintance by the name of Yusuke Izumida, 31, suspected of selling MDMA to the actor. The actual arrest did not take place until three days later, while police waited for Izumida, who was in hiding, to contact Oshio.

According to a police insider, the missing Izumida had been considered the key to the investigation of the drug route, in order to identify others who might have purchased drugs from this individual. The police intend to look into the rumored widespread use of illegal drugs in the entertainment industry. To this end, law enforcement authorities decided to arrest all three individuals simultaneously, which would allow them to look for any discrepancies in statements made by each suspect during the subsequent interrogation.

So far, both Izumida and Oshio have denied the allegation of drug transactions between them, but prior to the arrest Oshio had expressed his "fear" to a friend. The actor received a suspended sentence for the illegal use of MDMA, but now that he has been arrested again for the transfer of drugs, in addition to the impending charges of negligence that resulted in the death of Kaori Tanaka, it is highly likely that this time Oshio will be handed a prison sentence without suspension.

Another fear that the actor may have is of retribution from the source of the drug route and a network of people who will no doubt have connections with crime syndicates. In fact, on the day of his arrest, rumors spread that Oshio’s drowned body was found.

The police source comments, though, “There is a distribution channel known for its ‘delivery service’ of drugs to the homes of entertainers. Izumida is suspected of knowing people involved in the business, and the investigation will eventually lead to several crime syndicates. There is a good possibility that we will be able to track down other drug users in the entertainment business.”

In the course of arresting the three suspects, police had already interrogated fashion models and other women acquainted with Oshio to obtain information on his drug use and whether they received any MDMA from the actor. Because of his arrest, Oshio has become the target and enemy of those involved in the illicit drug business, which also explains the "fear" he mentioned to his friend.

One source in the entertainment industry states, “So many police investigators have been knocking on the doors of women who had some kind of relationship with him, that some are concerned Oshio’s going to give out ‘inconvenient’ information. Individuals like the president of a lingerie company and top executives of a famous pachinko manufacturer who used to frequent his home and helped him out financially are obviously maintaining distance from him.”

Police have already found evidence that Oshio made bank transfers of at least 1 million yen to Izumida, and their denial of drug transactions will not hold up much longer. Police were unable to trace the source of drug supply in the case of Noriko Sakai and husband. Whether the Oshio investigation will uncover the drug route that spreads through the entertainment world remains to be seen.

© Japan Today