VI. INITIATIVES OF JAPANPREVENTING SMUGGLINGCUSTOMSFOR

1. Effective Use of Inspection Equipment(1) X-ray inspection equipment
In response to further increases in importing and exporting cargo, passengers' personal
effects, international mail, etc. to be inspected, Customs installed various X-ray inspection
equipment in order to implement inspections more speedily and appropriately without opening
them. Fully utilizing such X-ray inspection systems, Customs endeavors to find and seize
smuggled methamphetamine, cannabis and other illicit drugs and firearms.
In consideration of the fact that large containers or containerized cargo are used for smuggling,large-scale X-ray inspection equipment has been installed at 16 locations (13 ports) nationwide,
starting from the one introduced at Yokohama Port in 2001. Previously, it took around 2 hours tobring out and inspect all cargo of one container, but thanks to the introduction of large-scaleequipment, it became possible to complete an inspection of one container in around 10 minutes,
and the time required for inspections was thus reduced significantly.
Recently, X-ray CT scanning inspection systems, with which the inside of the cargo can bevisualized in 3D images, are also being introduced and utilized.

(2) Customs' patrol boat
Customs' patrol boats dispatched from customs
offices surveil a wide area and crack down on
smuggling at seaports or trade on the sea that uses
fishing boats.

(3) Drug detector dog

The first 2 drug detector dogs were introducedwith the cooperation of the US customs in 1979.
At present, approx. 130 dogs are stationed atcustoms offices nationwide. They are mainly used
for inspections of passengers' personal effects
and international mail, etc. and have contributed
toa

numberofseizuresofcannabis,

methamphetamine or other illicit drugs. In 2002,
dogs to detect explosives and drugs were also
introduced.
(4) Port monitoring camera systems
Since March 1996, highly sensitive monitoring cameras with night vision have been installedat major seaports to tighten surveillance of vessels, movement of goods, and persons at theport areas.

(5) Metal detector gateMetal

detector

gates

werefirstintroduced

in2017ascountermeasures against the smuggling of gold bullion, and havealready been installed at airports and ports nationwide. Compared withconventional hand-held metal detectors, metal detector gates enable
stricter regulations through swift customs clearing targeting a larger
number of passengers, without the need to stop the procedural flow.
(6) Illicit drugs and explosives detector systems
Illicit drugs and explosives detector system (TDS; TraceDetection System) detects concealed methamphetamine,other illicit drugs, and explosives through the procedures ofwiping the surface of commercial cargo, passengers'
personal effects, and international mail, etc. being importedor exported, ionizing collected specimens, and analyzing
their mass. The TDS has contributed to seizures of a large
amount of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs. As theTDS enables detection of concealed illicit drugs and explosives in a short time without
destroying inspection targets, swift and strict inspections have become possible amid rapid
increases in passengers and cargo moving in and out of Japan.
(7) Electronic Customs Declaration Gate System
As of April 2021, the Electronic Customs Declaration
Gate System (e-Gate) is operating at Narita Airport,Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Chubu Airport, Fukuoka
Airport, New Chitose Airport and Naha Airport. A
passenger can complete the submission of " Declarationof Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles" byhaving an electronic declaration terminal scan the IC
passport and the QR code created by the Customs
Declaration

App,andtaking

thecustoms

entry

procedures in accordance with the terminal's instructions.
During this process, face photos are taken to verify
identification with the photo in the IC passport. Aftercompleting the procedures at the terminal, the passenger is asked to go to the electronicdeclaration gate. The passenger may simply pass through the gate as face photos aretaken once again for facial recognition(Please download the Customs Declaration Appfrom the QR code below.)
App Store

Google Play

(8) Utilization of digital forensics
Digital forensics are techniques and procedures for analyzing electromagnetic records toprove crimes. Information collected from digital data of communication equipment that wasused in a crime often serves as significant objective evidence for solving the crime. With furtheradvancement of ICT in society and economy, such information and digital forensics areexpected to become even more significant.

2. Customs Controls by Utilizing Information(1) Utilization of prior information
For effective and efficient border control, enforcement activities actively utilizing priorinformation, such as passenger name records (information on passenger reservation andboarding procedures held by airline companies), are being conducted.
(2) Development of the Customs controls system
The Customs Surveillance and Control Center was established at Yokohama Customs tocope with organized and large-scale smuggling cases. Providing support and coordination toeach customs office, the Office conducts efficient and effective enforcement activities against
ships, crew members, and passengers involving two or more jurisdictions.
(3) Reinforcement of the collection and analysis of information on smuggling
Each customs office has the Customs Manager Intelligence in charge of handling smugglingrelated information and a Customs Intelligence Manager is appointed. Additionally, the National
Intelligence & Targeting Center, which conducts nationwide collection and analysis ofinformation, was established in 2008. The Center comprehensively manages and analyzes
smuggling-related information received from domestic law enforcement authorities, such as thepolice and the Japan Coast Guard, as well as from foreign customs and other sources, thereby
endeavoring to reinforce its capacity to collect and analyze information.
(4) Strengthened cooperation with trade circles for better information collection
Customs has concluded Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various relatedorganizations, aimed at ensuring greater cooperation in the prevention of smuggling.
Organizations with which the Customs and Tariff Bureau has concluded MOUs: 11organizations
The Japanese Shipowners' Association; The Scheduled Airlines Association ofJapan; Japan Air Cargo Forwarders Association; Japan Customs Brokers
Association; Japan Foreign Steamship Association; Japan Fisheries Association;
Japan Oceangoing Passenger Ship Association; Japan City Hotel Association;
Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association; All Japan Ryokan Hotel Association; andNational Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Associations(5) Utilization of the information system
The Customs Intelligence Database System (CIS)—a computerized system capable ofsorting out and managing a wide variety of 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 forintelligence analysis, processing, and management, intensive and efficient border control ofsmuggling is being carried out.
(6) Enhancement of collection of information from the public
Ongoing efforts to gather information from the public throughout the nation include theopening of a single toll-free telephone number accessible 24 hours a day from everywhereacross the nation, the distribution of leaflets, and public relations activities such as thoseregarding law enforcement countermeasures at the border by using posters, the Japan
Customs' website, and various social media services (Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube).

LeafletPoster* In addition, materials for port-related organizations and fishery cooperatives, for logistics companies
and warehouse companies, and for accommodation suppliers have been made and distributed.

Customs YouTube Channel[Tekken × Japan Customs]
Protect and Take over Responsibility for People's
Lives
Access to videos

Customs YouTube Channel

Customs Twitter

Customs Facebook@Custom_kun

＠Japan.Customs

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

０１２０－４６１－９６１(Call Customs, Ministry of Finance, forinformation on smuggling.)

Customs website
https://www.customs.go.jp/
Webpage for information provisionhttps://www.customs.go.jp/
quest/index.htm

3. Closer Cooperation with Relevant Agencies(1) Border controls through cooperation with relevant agencies
With the aim of imposing effective controls at the border, Customs, police, 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 isconducting joint training and joint operations together with the police and Coast Guard acrossthe country.

(2) Holding of Law Enforcement Meeting on Measures against Smuggling
The Customs and Tariff Bureau of the Ministry of Finance organizes the Law Enforcement
Meeting on Measures against Smuggling with the aim of strengthening cooperation with theministries and agencies concerned and promoting the exchange of information needed tointerdict smuggling cases. Thus, information exchange is promoted at the national level.
Regional customs offices also organize regional law enforcement meetings on smuggling withthe law enforcement authorities concerned to promote information exchange at the regionallevel.

4. Promotion of International Information Exchange(1) Promotion of information exchange with foreign customs administrations
As the single contact point of Japan Customs for information exchange with foreign customs
administrations, the International Intelligence Office has been established in the National
Intelligence & Targeting Center. Japan Customs has been continuing its efforts to promote theestablishment of an international framework of customs cooperation with foreign countries,
such as Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements (hereinafter referred to as “CMAAs”), which
includes provisions for information exchange concerning the smuggling of illicit goods (e.g. illicitdrugs) (See "Present Status of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements, etc.").
Utilizing international networks, including the ones managed by the World Customs
Organization (WCO) and the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) for Asia and the Pacific,
Japan Customs exchanges smuggling-related information and intelligence with foreign
customs administrations and other law enforcement authorities.
(Reference) RILO (Regional Intelligence Liaison Office)
The RILO is the base for the WCO regional projects, which has been established for the purpose ofpromoting information exchange on illicit drugs among customs administrations in the region and improving
the intelligence analysis on the trends of smuggling in the region. The RILO for Asia and the Pacific, inwhich Japan Customs has a membership, was established 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 continued active participation in the RILO project with many contributions.
The RILO for Asia and the Pacific, whose office has been in South Korea since January 2012, analyzes
trends in smuggling within the region based on reports from participant countries and regions on interdicted
cases of smuggling of illicit drugs and related objects, distributes the results to participating countries andother organizations, and facilitates the information exchange among participating customs administrations.

(2) Information exchange under CMAAs
Japan Customs is actively working toward new CMAAs in order to facilitate informationexchange with the source or transit countries of illicit drugs and firearms, and is also committed
to further promoting information exchange through the existing CMAAs.
(Reference) Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements
A Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement is an international agreement that includes the provision of
the mutual assistance by the customs authorities of the Contracting Parties for the prevention ofsmuggling of goods harmful to society and strict border control against goods infringing intellectual property
rights, and also provides for cooperation in simplification and harmonization of customs procedures.

(3) 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 illicitdrugs, 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 aretackling offenses related to illicit drugs smuggling to exchange views on the analysis ofintelligence on source countries of smuggling, etc.

(4) Participation in international conferences
Japan Customs is actively taking part ininternational conferences, such as theEnforcement Committee of the WCO and theUN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, toexchange opinions and information on controlof illicit drugs with various countries.
Present Status of the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements, etc. (As of June 2021)< Customs Mutual Assistance Agreements (CMAAs) >U.S.A. (Jun. 1997), Republic of Korea (Dec. 2004), China (Apr. 2006), EU (Feb.
2008), Russia (May 2009), the Netherlands (Mar. 2010), Italy (Apr. 2012), South
Africa (Jul. 2012), Germany (Dec. 2014), Spain (May 2015), Norway (Sept. 2016),
Brazil (Sept. 2017, signed), Mexico (Jul. 2018), Uzbekistan (Dec. 2019), Uruguay(Jan. 2021, signed), and U.K. (Jan. 2021)< EPAs(Note 2) >Singapore (Nov. 2002), Malaysia (Jul. 2006), Thailand (Nov. 2007), Indonesia (Jul.
Enforcing or2008), Brunei Darussalam (Jul. 2008), the Philippines (Dec. 2008), Switzerland (Sept.
signed (372009), Vietnam (Oct. 2009), India (Aug. 2011), Peru (Mar. 2012), Australia (Jan. 2015),
countries
Mongolia (Jun. 2016), and TPP11(*) (Mar. 2018, signed)and(*(Note 4)) TPP11(CPTPP) participants: Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada,regions(Note1))
Australia, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chili, Malaysia, Peru< Administrative Arrangements >Australia (Jun. 2003; Jul. 2017, revised), New Zealand (Apr. 2004; Jun. 2014, revised),
Canada (Jun. 2005), Hong Kong; China (Jan. 2008), Macau; China (Sept. 2008),
France (Jun. 2012), U.K. (Jun. 2013), Belgium (Jul. 2017), and Austria (May 2019)(Note 1)
(Note 2)
(Note 3)(Note 4)(Note 5)< Others >Taiwan (Nov. 2017)(Note 5)

A country with which Japan has concluded multiple frameworks in different formats is counted asone. (ex. with Australia, Japan has concluded an EPA, TPP and administrative arrangement.)EPAs listed here are those incorporating provisions concerning customs mutual assistance.
Those underlined incorporate the content of the amendment of the Customs Act in FY2012 for thepurpose of enhancing information exchange with foreign customs administrations.
TPP11 (CPTPP) was signed by 11 countries in March 2018. Countries with a dotted underline arethose which have reported the completion of their procedures under domestic laws to New Zealand,
the Depositary of the Agreement, and for which the agreement has become effective.
Regarding Chinese Taipei, a private sector arrangement signed between the Japan-Taiwan
Exchange Association and the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association.

(5) Technical cooperation for enhancing border control capacity
In order to assist developing countries in their effort to strengthen border control capacity,such as collection and analysis of information on smuggling of illicit drugs and firearms, Japan
Customs has been dedicated to technical cooperation, such as hosting training courses inJapan for customs officers.