2009 Edition

TRENDS INILLICIT DRUGS AND FIREARMS
SMUGGLING IN JAPAN("White Powder and Black Firearms"
Report)POST CLEARANCE AUDIT, INVESTIGATION
AND INTELLIGENCE DIVISIONCUSTOMS AND TARIFF BUREAUMINISTRY OF FINANCE
JAPANPREFACE

Recent development toward global economy and borderless societies has brought about anincrease of international distribution and international travelers. Consequently, the request toexpedite customs clearance has risen, and efforts have been made to harmonize the trade andCustoms clearance procedures at the international level. At the same time, in Japan, thesoaring abuse of illicit drugs such as narcotics and stimulants among young people and theoccurrence of serious crimes in which guns are used has caused grave social problems.
Considering this serious situation, the Japanese government established the Headquarters for
the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse for the control of stimulants and theFirearms Control Headquarters for the control of handguns and other firearms, strengthening
its measures against illicit drugs and firearms. In December 2008, all matters decided by eachHeadquarters were transferred to the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug
Abuse and the Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms.
In September 2003, the Government set up a Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measuresagainst Crime to address the situation where heinous crimes are committed among the lives of
the general public, in some cases by juveniles. This Meeting was created to restore Japan tothe status of "the safest country in the world" and to promote comprehensive and active
measures in an effective way while the relevant promotional headquarters and law
enforcement agencies work in close cooperation with each other. Moreover, in December
2008, the Government formulated a "New Action Plan 2008 for Measures against Crime."
Related government agencies are now making collective efforts to carry out a variety ofmeasures.
Japan Customs gives the first priority to the interception of goods harmful to the society suchas illicit drugs and firearms at the border. Japan Customs is therefore actively engaged in theefforts to promote a range of measures, including strengthening collaboration with relatedorganizations, raising the level of collection and analysis of information and improving theequipment for detection, with the aim of reinforcing law enforcement activities at the border.
This booklet features smuggling trends in Japan and law enforcement measures being taken
by Japan Customs, considering the importance of law enforcement activities at the border
against smuggling of goods harmful to society. Through this booklet, we would like toprovide some insight for law enforcement officials, contribute to a better understanding of thegeneral public about the Customs enforcement activities, and ask for their greater cooperation
with Customs.
Lastly, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the ministries and agencies
concerned for their contributions in compiling this booklet.

Post Clearance Audit,
Investigation andIntelligence Division,
Customs and Tariff Bureau,
Ministry of FinanceCONTENTS
I.

INTERDICTIONS OF ILLICIT DRUGS AND FIREARMS SMUGGLING IN 2009 ............ 1

1.

Number of Interdictions................................................................................................... 1

2.

(1)

Summary ................................................................................................................................1(2)

Interdiction of Major Illicit Drugs and Firearms....................................................................1(3)

Transition in Amount of Seizures for Major Smuggled Illicit Drugs.....................................2Trends in Illicit Drug Smuggling ...................................................................................... 3(1)

Stimulants...............................................................................................................................3(2)Cannabis (herbal cannabis and cannabis resin (hashish)) ......................................................5(3)

Tablet-type Synthetic Drugs such as MDMA (including MDA and MDE) ...........................6(4)Other Illicit Drugs (cocaine, heroin, opium, psychotropics)..................................................73.

Trends in Firearms Smuggling ........................................................................................ 9II.

SIGNIFICANT INTERDICTIONS IN 2009 ......................................................................101.

Interdiction Cases by Substance Type ...........................................................................10(1)Stimulants.............................................................................................................................10(2)Cannabis...............................................................................................................................11(3)MDMA.................................................................................................................................12(4)Cocaine.................................................................................................................................12

2. Interdiction Cases of Newly Designated Narcotics............................................................13
3. Interdiction Cases at Local Port ........................................................................................14
III. LAW ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS AND OTHERILLEGAL ITEMS ............................................................................................................16
1.

2.

Government Initiatives ...................................................................................................16(1)Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse .........................................16(2)Meeting for the Promotion of Measures against Firearms ...................................................20(3)Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime...................................................25

Law Enforcement by Japan Customs.............................................................................29(1)Consolidation of Organization for Enforcement..................................................................30(2)

Reinforcement of the Collection and Analysis of Information on Smuggling.....................30(3)Effective Use of Enforcement Equipment .........................................................................32(4)

Closer Cooperation with Relevant Agencies........................................................................33(5)

Promotion of International Information Exchange ..............................................................33(6)

Technical Cooperation in the Field of Customs Enforcement .............................................35

REFERENCE DATA:
1.

Major Interdiction Cases of Illicit Drugs and Firearms (Top Three Cases) ......................37

2.

Latest Interdiction Cases of Illicit Drugs and Other Smuggling(1)

Illicit Drugs
Stimulants................................................................................................................38
Cannabis..................................................................................................................39
Heroin......................................................................................................................40
Cocaine....................................................................................................................41
Opium......................................................................................................................42
MDMA and MDA ...................................................................................................43
Psychotropics ..........................................................................................................44(2)

Firearms ...............................................................................................................................45