2022 Edition("White Powder and Black Firearms" Report)

Post Clearance Audit, Investigation andIntelligence Division
Customs and Tariff Bureau
Ministry of FinancePREFACE
Amid the expansion of international distribution and personnel exchanges accompanying thefurther globalization of society, we are now facing greater risks of smuggling of goods harmful tosociety, such as methamphetamine and other illicit drugs that threaten the safety and peace of people'slives, guns and other terrorism-related materials, and goods infringing intellectual property rights.
These tendencies have been continuing even after dramatic changes occurred in the distribution ofgoods and human movement due to the expansion of the COVID-19 infection, and the circumstances
concerning the flow of goods harmful to society into Japan seem to have become even more serious.
Under such circumstances, Japan Customs and the Customs and Tariff Bureau of the Ministry ofFinance position the prevention of goods harmful to society from entering Japan at the border as oneof the most important issues and are proactively promoting various measures, including theenhancement of collection and analysis of information, strengthening of cooperation with the relevant
authorities, and further deployment the border control equipment, while making efforts to flexibly
respond to the diversification of smuggling tactics.
This booklet features smuggling trends in Japan and countermeasures being implemented by Japan
Customs, considering the importance of Customs controls at the border against the smuggling ofgoods harmful to society. Through this booklet, we would like to provide some insight for law
enforcement officials, contribute to a better understanding by the public about Customs' enforcement
activities, and ask for their greater cooperation with Customs.
Post Clearance Audit, Investigation and Intelligence Division,Customs and Tariff Bureau,
Ministry of FinanceCONTENTS
I. TRENDS IN ILLICIT DRUGS SMUGGLING
1. Seizures of Smuggled Illicit Drugs __________________________________________________ - 1 2. Influences of Illicit Drug Abuse _____________________________________________________ - 6 II. TRENDS IN FIREARMS SMUGGLING ______________________________________________ - 8 III. TRENDS IN GOLD BULLION SMUGGLING
1. Seizures of Smuggled Gold Bullion __________________________________________________ - 9 2. Mechanism of Gold Bullion Smuggling _____________________________________________ - 10 IV. CUSTOMS CONTROLS AGAINST GOODS INFRINGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYRIGHTS
1. Import Suspensions Regarding Goods Infringing Intellectual Property Rights ____________ - 11 2. Accusation Cases Related to Goods Infringing Intellectual Property Rights _______________ - 14 V. CUSTOMS CONTROLS AGAINST SMUGGLING OG OTHER ITEMS
1. Smuggling Cases Invovling CITES-listed Species _____________________________________ - 15 2. Illicit Export Cases ______________________________________________________________ - 16 3. Counterfeit Securities ____________________________________________________________ - 16 VI. INITIATIVES OF JAPAN CUSTOMS FOR PREVENTING SMUGGLING
1. Effective Use of Inspection Equipment ______________________________________________ - 17 2. Customs Controls by Utilizing Information __________________________________________ - 20 3. Closer Cooperation with Relevant Agencies _________________________________________ - 22 4. Promotion of International Information Exchange ____________________________________ - 23 VII. GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES
1. Ministerial Meeting Concerning Measures against Crime ______________________________ - 25 2. Meeting for the Promotion of Measures to Prevent Drug Abuse _________________________ - 26 3. Meeting for the Promotion of Measures aganst Firearms ______________________________ - 27 -

REFERENCE DATA
1. Types of Illicit Drugs ____________________________________________________________ - 28 2. Production Methods and Pharmacological Effects, etc. of Major Illicit Drugs _____________ - 29 3. Types of Firearms _______________________________________________________________ - 30 4. Types of Pistols by Form _________________________________________________________ - 31 5. Trends in Smuggling around the World _____________________________________________ - 32 6. Seizures of Goods Harmful to Society ______________________________________________ - 35 7. Number of Seizures of Major Illicit Drugs by Mode of Transport________________________ - 36 8-1. Number of Seizures of Methamphetamine by Mode of Transport ______________________ - 36 8-2. Number of Seizures of Methamphetamine by Source ________________________________ - 37 9-1. Number of Seizures of Cannabis by Mode of Transport ______________________________ - 38 9.2 Number of Seizures of Harbal Cannabis by Source __________________________________ - 38 9-3 Number of Seizures of Cannabis Resin, etc. by Source _______________________________ - 39 (Reference) Number of Dispositions for Violations of the Customs Act by Mode of Offence ____ - 39 10. Outline of Intellectual Property Rights ____________________________________________ - 40 -