Table 2-8 Trends in the cases violating the Anti-Drug Special Act (Pursuing the illegal import of drugs as a profession) (1999-2008)

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Category
Number of violations of article 5 (Pursuing the illegal import of drugs as a profession)	18	34	18	43	32	45	47	40	38	52

Note: For violations of articles 6 and 7, refer to P. 133

## 2 ) Eliminating Demand

Drug abuse does not just damage the mind and body of the user, it threatens the very safety of society. Depending on the hallucination or fantasy caused users may commit murder, arson or any number of malicious acts, in addition to potentially causing horrendous traffic accidents.

In order to eliminate demand for drugs, it is important that society as a whole maintains a wide-spread attitude of rejection. In addition to arresting serious drug abusers, the police are carrying out activities such as the spreading of public awareness to promote the spread of correct knowledge about the danger and harm of drugs. Following 2007, in 2008 as well, those arrested for drug abuse and given suspended sentences in summary trials were placed in group counseling programs run by private organizations and administered drug testing under a “Model program for the prevention of drug abuse relapse” by the National Police Agency.

Type	Penal Code Offenses	Other Law Offenses
Felonious Offenses	Violent Offenses	Firearm Control Act	Others
Murder	Robbery	Arson	Rape	Violence	Battery	Threat	Extortion	Unlawful assembly with dangerous weapons	Larceny Offense	Others
2008	809	68	17	39	6	6	146	23	80	5	38	0	404	191	3,403	10	3,393
2007	770	68	19	42	2	5	162	22	90	9	41	0	349	191	3,774	10	3,764
Difference	39	0	△ 2	△ 3	4	1	△ 16	1	△ 10	△ 4	△ 3	0	55	0	△ 371	0	△ 371

Note: This terms applies to those who regularly use stimulants, drugs, cannabis, opium or psychotropic drugs or those who regularly abuse toluene and other types of organic solvents, including paint thinner and glue. Whether or not the user is addicted is not questioned.

## 3 ) Promotion of International Cooperation (Refer to Page 184)

The unlawful trade of drugs is not a problem which one country can handle alone, as drug syndicates cross national boundaries. It is a dire issue of a global scale, and as such initiatives to solve the problem are being carried out within the international framework of such organizations as the G8 and United Nations.

In addition to cooperation in international investigations through such actions as participating in the exchange of information at international conferences and the mutual dispatch of investigators, is pursuing technological cooperation in drug investigations with interested countries.

Concretely, between September and October of 2008 the National Police Agency jointly held with the non-governmental organization the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) a meeting inviting to Japan top-level officials in drug supervision organizations from 13 countries in Asia and Central America. During the seminar officials exchanged information on drug control and planned for the transfer of Japanese investigation technology. Also, in February of 2008 the 14th Asia-Pacific Operational Drug Enforcement Conference was held in Chiba Prefecture. 29 countries, 2 regions and 2 international organizations (including observers) participated in the conference and discussed the current situation of the unlawful trade of drugs.

### 3. Gun Situation

The gun situation in 2008 remains severe. While the numbers of confirmed cases in which guns were fired and confirmed cases involving the use of a gun $ ^{1} $ remain at a record low level, felonious crimes causing harm to the general public continue to occur.

Note 1: Incidents in which firearms or firearm-like objects were fired. “Firearm” includes “handguns, small arms, machine guns, cannons, hunting rifles and other air-rifles and gunpowder rifles with the ability to shoot metallic bullets” (Article 2-1 of the Firearms and Swords Control Act (hereafter the “Firearm Control Act”)). “Firearm-like objects” refer to objects which resemble firearms and which are shown to others in order to perpetrate crimes, and may be identified as firearms by the testimony of a victim or witness.