III. LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER AGAINST ILLICITDRUGS AND OTHER ILLEGAL ITEMS
1.

Government Initiatives(1) Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse
In January 1997, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse was establishedwithin the Cabinet to address the serious drug situation at that time. Through its annual meetings, theHeadquarters was expected to ensure close cooperation among relevant administrative agencies inmeasures against drug abuse as well as to promote strict drug control, public awareness of drug abuse, andother comprehensive and active measures. In December 2008, however, the Headquarters was abolishedwith the aim of reorganizing overlapping meetings in which the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet
Secretary were required to participate. Instead, the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse, presided over by the Minister of State for Measures against Drug Abuse, was determined tobe held as necessary under the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime. All matters
decided by the Headquarters before its abolition were transferred to the Meeting for the Promotion of
Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse.
Recognizing the need for medium- and long-term strategies for fighting drug abuse, the Headquarters
decided on the Five-year Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy in May 1998 and the New Five-year Drug
Abuse Prevention Strategy in July 2003. In view of the importance to eliminate the trafficking of illicit
drugs by sea routes, the Headquarters also defined the Emergency Measures at the Border to Prevent
Trafficking of Illicit Drugs in order to concentrate cooperation among the ministries and agencies
concerned on the measures at the border, thus promoting comprehensive and aggressive measures.
Although the measures taken according to the strategies worked well to some extent to reduce the numberof persons accused of stimulant-related offenses, the number of repeat stimulant offenders increased.
Unfortunately, the drug situation was still serious as evidenced by the youth abuse of cannabis andsynthetic narcotics in tablet form such as MDMA and the deep involvement of criminal organizations in
drug abuse offenses. For this reason, the Third Five-year Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy was decided at
the meeting of the Headquarters in August 2008.
(Note 1) Members of the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse

Chief:

Minister of State for Measures against Drug Abuse,

Deputy Chiefs:

Chair of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of Justice,
Minister of Finance, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology, Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, Minister ofLand, Infrastructure and Transport

Members:

Minister of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts andTelecommunications, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of
Economy, Trade and Industry-16-

(Note 2)
Meetings in the past 5 years (including the meetings of the Headquarters for
the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse)
January 17, 1997

Cabinet decision for establishment of the Headquarters for the
Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse

January 21, 1997

First meeting of headquarters members

April 18, 1997

Second meeting of headquarters members
Outline on Promoting Measures against Illicit Drugs

May 27, 1997

Third meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1996
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1997

May 26, 1998

Fourth meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Urgent Countermeasures against
Juvenile Drug Abuse problems
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1997
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1998
Progress Report on the Five-Year Strategy for the Preventionof Drug Abuse

May 18, 1999

Fifth meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1998
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1999
Progress Report on the Five-Year Strategy for the Preventionof Drug AbuseMay 23, 2000

6th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 1999
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 2000
Progress Report on the Five-Year Strategy for the Preventionof Drug Abuse-17-

June 1, 2001

7th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 2000
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 2001
Progress Report on the Five-Year Strategy for the Preventionof Drug Abuse

May 31, 2002

8th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures to Prevent
Drug Abuse in Fiscal 2001
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measures toPrevent Drug Abuse in Fiscal 2002
Progress Report on the Five-Year Strategy for the Preventionof Drug Abuse

July 29, 2003

9th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention of Drug
Abuse
Adoption of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Adoption of Urgent Border Control Measures for Interdictionof Illicit Drug Smuggling

June 14, 2004

10th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Follow-up of the Urgent Border Control Measures forInterdiction of Illicit Drug Smuggling

June 10, 2005

11th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Follow-up of the Urgent Border Control Measures forInterdiction of Illicit Drug Smuggling

July 18, 2006

12th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Follow-up of the Urgent Border Control Measures forInterdiction of Illicit Drug Smuggling

January 4, 2007

13th meeting of headquarters members-18-

Partial revision of the New Five-Year Strategy for thePrevention of Drug Abuse
August 3, 2007

14th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Follow-up of the Urgent Border Control Measures forInterdiction of Illicit Drug Smuggling

August 22, 2008

15th meeting of headquarters members
Follow-up of the New Five-Year Strategy for the Prevention ofDrug Abuse
Follow-up of the Urgent Border Control Measures forInterdiction of Illicit Drug Smuggling
Third Five-year Drug Abuse Prevention Strategy

August 20, 2009First meeting of meeting members
Follow-up of the Third Five-year Drug Abuse Prevention
Strategy-19-

(2) Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms
In September 1995, the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms was establishedwithin the Cabinet to address the serious firearm situation at that time. Through its annual meetings, theHeadquarters was expected to ensure close cooperation among relevant administrative agencies inmeasures against firearms as well as to promote strict firearm control, public awareness of firearms, andother comprehensive and active measures. In December 2008, however, the Headquarters was abolishedwith the aim of reorganizing overlapping meetings in which the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet
Secretary were required to participate. Instead, the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms, presided over by the Minister of State for Measures against Firearms, was determined to be held
as necessary under the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime. All matters decided by
the Headquarters before its abolition were transferred to the Meeting for the Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms.
The Headquarters had been drawing up and deciding on a roadmap each year to promote measures forcontrolling firearms in line with the Outline of Promoting Measures against Firearms adopted in
December 1995. The First Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms, held in May 2009,decided on the Plans for Promotion of Measures against Firearms in Fiscal 2009 as a roadmap to promotemeasures for controlling firearms in accordance with the Outline.
(Note 1) Members of the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms

Chief:

Minister of State for Measures against Firearms

Deputy Chiefs:

Chair of the National Public Safety Commission

Members:

Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Public Relations Secretary
Director-General for Policy Planning of Cabinet Office (Policy ofConvivial Society)Director-General of Community Safety Bureau of National Police
AgencyDirector-General of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of National
Police Agency
Chief of Organized Crime Department of the Criminal Investigation
Bureau of National Police Agency
Director-General of Minister’s Secretariat of Ministry of Public
Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications
Director-General of the Criminal Affairs Bureau of Ministry ofJustice
Director-General of Immigration Bureau of Ministry of JusticeConsul General of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Director-General of the Customs and Tariff Bureau of Ministry of
Finance
Deputy Director-General of Fisheries Agency
Director-General of Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau of
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry-20-

Director-General of Policy Bureau of Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure and Transport
Vice Commandant of Japan Coast Guard
Director-General of Nature Conservation Bureau of Ministry of theEnvironment-21-

(Note 2) Meetings(including the meetings of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms)
September 19, 1995
September 28, 1995

Cabinet decision for establishment of the Firearms Control
Headquarters
First meeting of headquarters members

December 19, 1995

Second meeting of headquarters members
Adoption of the Outline on Promoting Measures against
Firearms
Adoption of Action Plan for Prevention of Promotion of
Publicity Activities

May 7, 1997

Third meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 1996
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 1997

April 30, 1998

Fourth meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures Against
Firearms in Fiscal 1997
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 1998

April 27, 1999

Fifth meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 1998
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 1999

April 28, 2000

6th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 1999
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2000

April 20, 2001

7th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation-22-

Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2000
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2001
April 26, 2002

8th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2001
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2002

April 25, 2003

9th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2002
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2003

April 27, 2004

10th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2003
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2004

April 26, 2005

11th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Recent Firearms Situation
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2004
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2005

May 25, 2006

12th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2005
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2006
Report on Progress of Efforts by Ministries and Agencies

April 25, 2007

13th meeting of headquarters members-23-

Regarding the shooting of the mayor of Nagasaki andshootings in Tokyo and Kanagawa
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2006
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2007
Report on Progress of Efforts by Ministries and Agencies
May 18, 2007

First meeting of the project team to study further measuresagainst firearms
Regarding the study for the one-step-forward measures

June 25, 2007

Second meeting of the project team to study further measuresagainst firearms
Regarding further measure plans to prevent firearms crimes

May 1, 2008

14th meeting of headquarters members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2007
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2008
Report on Progress of Efforts by Ministries and Agencies

April 22, 2009First meeting of meeting members
Report on Progress of the Promotion of Measures against
Firearms in Fiscal 2008
Report on Adoption of Plans for Promotion of Measuresagainst Firearms in Fiscal 2009
Report on Progress of Efforts by Ministries and Agencies

-24-

(3)

Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime

Considering the current situation where juvenile and heinous crimes occur frequently among the people's
daily lives, the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime was held. The first meeting of the
Ministerial Meeting was held in September 2003. The Prime Minister presided over this Meeting,composed of all the Cabinet ministers. The Meeting has the mission to take effective, comprehensive andactive measures in close cooperation among the ministries and other governmental agencies concernedwith activities against smuggling, in order to restore Japan as "the safest country in the world."
In December 2003, the Ministerial Meeting adopted the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime ("Old Plan") in order to remove public concern about the security situation, halt theworsening crime situation, and get through the crisis of public security. Since then, the Ministerial
Meeting has steadily been implementing various measures in cooperation with the people, business
operators and local governments.
As a result of unified efforts made by the people and the national government in connection with the Old
Plan, the public security of Japan has been improving significantly, as shown by a decrease in the numberof juveniles accused of criminal offenses and in the number of illegal foreign residents. However, thepeople have not recognized this improvement yet because of new security threats such as bank transfer
frauds and random killings. In response to this situation, the Ministerial Meeting held in June 2008
developed the Action Plan 2008 for the Realization of a Society Resistant to Crime in order to reduce
more crimes, untangle public concern about the security situation, and achieve the genuine restoration of
public security within 5 years. Based on this Plan, steady efforts are being made to implement measures toachieve this goal.
(Note 1) Members of Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime

Chief:
Members:

Prime Minister
All the Cabinet Ministers(Note 2) Meetings

September 2, 2003

Oral consent of the Cabinet on the establishment of the"Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime"

September 5, 2003

First meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime

December 18, 2003

Second meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning
Measures against Crime
Adoption of Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime

June 22, 2004

Third meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Adoption of Action Plan for the Measures to Be Taken at
Ministries and Agencies-25-

December 14, 2004

Fourth meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning
Measures against Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Adoption of Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism
Adoption of Action Plan for Measures against Trafficking of
Human Beings

June 28, 2005

5th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime(14th joint meeting with the Headquarters of Urban Renewal Project)
Safe and Secure Town Planning
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Establishment of the Immigration Control Systems Based on
Biometrics
Follow-up of the Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism

December 20, 2005

Sixth meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Nationwide Campaign for the Safe andSecure Town Planning
Efforts on Protection of Children from Crimes
Follow-up of the Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism

June 20, 2006

7th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime(Third joint meeting with the Headquarters of Promoting Juvenile
Fostering)
Juvenile Issues
Measures against Organized Crime Groups
Issues on Prevention of Recommitment of Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism

December 19, 2006

8th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Efforts on Protection of Children from Crimes and Saving ofChildren from Delinquency-26-

Progress of Discussions by the Working Team (Progress of
Measures against Crimes)
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism
July 3, 2007

9th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
General items concerning Fostering Juveniles and Measuresagainst Crime
Measures against Organized Crime Groups
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Nationwide Campaign for the Safe andSecure Town Planning

December 21, 2007

10th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Progress of Discussions Concerning Measures against Crime
and Working Team
Measures against Firearms and Organized Crime Groups
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Nationwide Campaign for the Safe andSecure Town Planning

June 16, 2008

11th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Progress of Measures against Crimes taken so far and futurechallenges
Follow-up of the Action Plan for the Realization of a Society
Resistant to Crime
Follow-up of the Nationwide Campaign for the Safe andSecure Town Planning

December 22, 2008

11th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Action Plan 2008 for the Realization of a Society Resistant to
Crime

June 26, 2009

13th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Progress of Measures against Crime and Progress of
Discussions by Relevant Headquarters-27-

December 22, 2009

14th meeting of the Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime
Adoption of 2009 Action Plan to combat Trafficking in
Persons (Draft) and Progress of Measures against Crime
Promotion of Measures for Elimination of Child Pornography

-28-

2.

Law Enforcement by Japan Customs

The volume of objectives for Customs control, such as passengers entering Japan and importcargo, is growing steadily. At the same time, modus operandi used by smugglers is getting
increasingly devious and crafty. Japan Customs, with its limited resources, is taking various
measures in order to meet these challenges and to conduct effective and efficient law
enforcement at the border in recent years.
Object of Control(Indicator)

1999(10 years ago)

Passengers
10,000people(Arriving passengers)
Commercial cargoes

10,000cases(Import permits/approvals)
International mail(Pieces of mail presented for importinspection)

10,000pieces(Entering ships)

2006

2007

2008

2,491

2,570

2,649

2,520

2,316

(100.0)(116.1)(119.8)(123.4)(117.4)(107.9)

1,109

1,704

1,753

1,767

1,789

1,752

(100.0)(153.7)(158.1)(159.3)(161.3)(158.0)12,088

10,545

10,123

9,851

9,642

9,734

(100.0)(87.2)(83.7)(81.5)(79.8)(80.5)

12.6

13.6

13.8

13.5

13.0

11.3

(100.0)(107.9)(109.5)(107.1)(103.2)(89.7)

12.3

16.0

16.6

17.3

17.4

16.3

(141.5)(132.5)

Aircraft

10,000(Entering aircraft)(100.0)(130.1)(135.0)(140.7)
aircraft
Notes) 1. The numbers of arriving passengers derive from the Annual Report on Statistics on Legal Migrants published by the Ministry of Justice.
(Data of 2009 are preliminary.)

2. Number of import permits/approvals and pieces of mail presented for import inspection are checked by the Customs Clearance Division of the Japan
Customs.
3. Number of entering ships and aircraft are checked by the Enforcement Division of the Japan Customs.
4. The figures in parentheses on the bottom are indexes with 1999 given as 100. (This applies hereafter.)(Index)200

Trends in Customs Business Volumes
Arriv ing Passengers
Number of import permits/approv als
Number of pieces of mail presented f or import inspection
Number of entering ships
Number of entering aircraf t

150

100

50
1999

2005

2009

2,146

Ships
10,000
ships

2005

2006

2007

-29-

2008

2009

(1) Consolidation of Organization for Enforcementa. Consolidation of an organization for consistent enforcement in distribution
For improving the effectiveness and efficiency of consistent cargo control in physical distribution
related to import and export clearance, the organization for enforcement and inspection at the
Enforcement Division of each Customs were centralized and risk management is conducted by using
prior information. In this way, Customs is better able to handle goods harmful to society andterrorism-related materials.

b. Consolidation of an organization for wide-area enforcement
The Customs Surveillance and Control Center was established at Yokohama Customs to cope withorganized and large-scale smuggling cases. Providing support and coordination to each customs
office, the Office conducts intensive wide-area enforcement activities against ships and crew
members involving two or more jurisdictions.

(2) Reinforcement of the Collection and Analysis of Information on Smugglinga. Introduction of intelligence-related posts
The post of Customs Manager Intelligence (to handle smuggling intelligence) was established ineach Customs, while the post of Chief Executive Customs Manager Intelligence was established inTokyo Customs. At the center of the organization, these officers comprehensively manage andanalyze smuggling-related information received from domestic law enforcement authorities (such as
the Police and Coast Guard), foreign customs and other sources, making every effort to conduct
effective intelligence analysis.

b. Strengthened cooperation with trade circles for better information collection
Customs has concluded Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), aimed, inter alia, at ensuring greater
cooperation in the prevention of smuggling, with organizations related to vessels, aircraft,commercial cargo and others; this is done to ensure effective enforcement against smuggling:(a) Customs and Tariff Bureau of the Ministry of Finance:
Japanese Shipowners Association,
Scheduled Airlines Association of Japan,
Japan Customs Brokers Association,
Japan Air Cargo Forwarders Association,
Japan Foreign Steamship Association andJapan Fisheries Association(6 organizations in total)(b) Each regional Customs: Associations of transportation services and travel agencies
under the jurisdiction of each regional customs, fishery cooperatives, etc.
(29 organizations in total)-30-

c. Reporting means available from the public
Ongoing efforts to gather information from public throughout the nation include the opening of asingle toll-free telephone number accessible 24 hours a day, from everywhere across the nation, thedistribution of leaflets, and public relations activities such as law enforcement countermeasures atthe border by Customs through Customs websites, Customs public relation videos, etc. Starting fromMay 2007, the information can be sent via the Internet.
Leaflet (for general people)

CUSTOMS WEBSITE* In addition, materials for port related organizations, fishery cooperatives, logistics
companies and warehouse companies have been made and distributed.

SMUGGLING - DIAL: (24 hours a day: toll-free)

CUSTOMS WEBSITE

0120-461-961

http://www.customs.go.jp/english/index.
htm(Call Customs, Ministry of Finance for information on smuggling.)

d. Utilization of the Information System
The Customs Intelligence Database System (CIS) – a computerized system capable of sorting out
and managing various information such as Customs clearance for exports and imports as well as ship
entries and departures – has been introduced at Customs offices throughout the nation. Through the
improvement and reinforcement of the system for intelligence analysis, processing and management,
intensive and efficient control of smuggling is being carried out at the border.

-31-

(3) Effective Use of Enforcement Equipment
a. Utilization of X-ray inspection equipment
X-ray equipment both mobile and fixed have been installed at major regional Customs offices andhave demonstrated great performance in detecting goods harmful to society such as illicit drugs
concealed skillfully in cargo and other goods.
In addition to ordinary X-ray equipment for cargos, large-scale X-ray equipment for containerizedcargoes capable of inspecting containers without unloading them from trailers, and mobile
backscattered X-ray equipment for inspecting heavy items and lengthy cargoes, have been installed
in principal ports across the country since February 2001 and March 2006, respectively.

b. Utilization of Customs' patrol boat
Large-size patrol boats and wide-area patrol boats,stationed at major customs offices, have been
engaged in monitoring across a wide range of waters
to prevent activities such as on-the-sea trafficking ofillicit drugs and firearms, and smuggling at local ports
or closed ports.
For reinforcing smuggling control on the Sea of Japanside, a large-size patrol boat was deployed at Sakai
Port in March 2009.

c. Utilization of Drug Detector Dogs
Drug Detector Dogs (Aggressive Dogs) wereintroduced in 1979 to cope with increasing numbers of
drug smuggling cases.
In addition, passive dogs have been deployed andeffectively used for the control of illicit drugs inbaggage inspection stations of major airports since theirintroduction in 1993.
While "aggressive dogs" send alert signals to theirhandlers by scratching baggage, "passive dogs" aretrained to send alert signals to their handlers by theirsitting motion when they scent illicit drugs hidden on or around them.

-32-

d. Introduction of Port Monitoring Camera Systems
Since March 1996, highly sensitive monitoring cameras with night vision have been installed atmajor sea ports to tighten controls over vessels, movement of goods and persons at the port areas.

(4) Closer Cooperation with Relevant Agencies
a. Enforcement through cooperation with relevant agencies
With the aim of imposing effective controls at the border, Customs, the Police, the Coast Guard andother organizations are working in close cooperation, each making full use of its own information,organizational resources, jurisdiction and experience.
In more specific terms, Customs is conducting joint training and joint operations together with the
Police and the Coast Guard across the country.

b. Holding of Law Enforcement Meeting on Measures against Smuggling
The Customs and Tariff Bureau of the Ministry of Finance organizes Law Enforcement Meetings on
Measures against Smuggling to strengthen the cooperation with the ministries and agencies
concerned and promote the exchange of information needed to interdict smuggling cases. Thus,
information exchange is promoted at the national level. Regional Customs offices also organize
regional law enforcement meetings on smuggling with the law enforcement authorities concerned topromote information exchange at the regional level.

(5) Promotion of International Information Exchange
a. Promotion of information exchange with foreign Customs administrations
As the only contact point of Japan Customs for information exchange with foreign customs
administrations, the International Intelligence Office has been established in Tokyo Customs. In
order to facilitate information exchange, Japan Customs improved rules for information provision toforeign customs administrations based on the tariff reform in March 1998 and concluded withvarious foreign countries the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement that includes provisions for
information exchange concerning the smuggling of illicit drugs and so on. (See "Present Conditionof the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement.")
Using international networks for information exchange, such as the ones managed by the World
Customs Organization (WCO) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) for Asia and thePacific, Japan Customs exchanges smuggling-related information and intelligence with foreign
customs administrations and other law enforcement authorities.

-33-

Note: The RILO is the base for the WCO's regional projects, which has been established for the
purpose of promoting exchange of information on illicit drugs, etc. among Customs
administrations in the region and improving the intelligence analysis on the trends ofsmuggling in the region.
The RILO for Asia and the Pacific, in which Japan Customs administration has a membership, wasestablished in Hong Kong as the first RILO of the world in December 1987. Japan Customs hosted
the RILO for Asia and the Pacific (located in Tokyo Customs) for the five years from January 1999
and has actively participated in the RILO project with many contributions. The RILO for Asia andthe Pacific, whose office was relocated to China (within Beijing Customs Office) in January 2004,
analyzes trends in smuggling within the region based on the reports from participant countries andregions on the interdicted cases of smuggling of illicit drugs and related objects, distributes theresults to participating countries and other organizations, and facilitate exchange of information
between customs administrations in these countries.

b.

Information exchange under Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements
Customs is actively working to conclude Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements that require
increased information exchange with the source and transit countries of illicit drugs and firearms.
Customs is also committed to increasing information exchange through Customs Mutual AssistanceAgreements already concluded.
Note: Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements provide the customs authorities of Japan and foreigncountries a legal framework for mutual assistance including information exchange. This
framework helps both customs authorities properly execute their respective laws andregulations, realize prompt customs clearance, and effectively police their borders for illicit
drugs, firearms, and other socially harmful goods, as well as goods infringing intellectual
property rights.

EPAs (Note 1)
Singapore (November 2002), Malaysia (July 2006),
Thailand (November 2007), Indonesia (July 2008),
Brunei (July 2008), Philippines (December 2008),
Switzerland (September 2009), Vietnam (October 2009)
Intergovernmental Agreements
United States (June 1997), South Korea (December 2004),
China (April 2006), EC (February 2008), Russia(May 2009)
Italy(signed in December 2009),Netherlands(March 2010) (Note 2)
Cooperative Arrangements between Customs Administrations
Australia (June 2003), NZ (April 2004), Canada (June 2005),
Hong Kong (January 2008), Macao (September 2008)(Note 1) Containing provisions for customs mutual assistance.
(Note 2) Italy have not entered into force yet.
The month and year in parentheses indicates the year of enactment or signing(as of June 2010)-34-

c. Collecting smuggling-related information through the dispatch of officers
Customs officers are sent to the countries and regions that are likely to be sources for illicit drugs,
etc. smuggled into Japan to collect information on smuggling and establish mutual cooperative
relations with the foreign Customs administrations. In addition, Japan Customs dispatches officers
specialized in intelligence analysis to the countries and regions which are tackling offenses related toillicit drug smuggling to exchange views on the analysis of intelligence on source countries ofsmuggling, etc.

d. Participation in international conferences
Japan Customs is actively taking part in international conferences, such as the Enforcement
Committee of the WCO and WCO/RILO for Asia and the Pacific Contact Points Meetings, toexchange opinions and information on control of illicit drugs with various countries.

(6) Technical Cooperation in the Field of Customs Enforcement
Japan Customs has been providing developing countries with technical cooperation, including
training for their customs officers in order to improve the capacity of their customs authorities tocontrol smuggling at the border, such as the capability to collect and analyze information on illicit
drug smuggling and so on.

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