“Finding stimulants hidden in the body” Introducing a new device to prevent smuggling October 19, 5:47
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In response to a series of cases of smuggling illegal drugs hidden in the body, the Ministry of Finance is developing a device to find stimulants in the body by exposing it to electromagnetic waves, and before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year, We have decided to introduce it at the airport.
This device is being developed by the Ministry of Finance's "Central Customs Analysis Center" in collaboration with companies in Osaka University and Yamagata Prefecture.
By applying electromagnetic waves called "radio waves" used in radio to the abdomen and hips of a person, it is possible to test for the presence of components contained in stimulants in about 1 minute, and the test does not have any adverse effects on the body. That is.
With this device, you don't have to go to the hospital and you can test faster.
The Ministry of Finance plans to conduct final tests to confirm performance and then introduce it to customs at domestic airports before the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year.
According to the Ministry of Finance, this is the world's first practical application of a device that finds stimulants in the body using electromagnetic waves.
Yukinori Funatsu, director of the Second Research Laboratory of the Central Customs Research Institute, said, "We would like to proceed with verification such as improving accuracy and put it into practical use as soon as possible."
In the last year, 26 cases were caught by customs for hiding stimulants in the body at airports nationwide, and the Ministry of Finance plans to strengthen measures against smuggling, which is becoming more sophisticated.
Rapid increase in cases hidden in the body
According to the Ministry of Finance, there were 425 cases of stimulant smuggling caught by customs at airports and ports nationwide last year, with seizures reaching a record high of 2570 kg.
The standard amount used by drug abusers is 85,660,000 times, which is equivalent to about 154.2 billion yen at the terminal price.
More than half of the cases caught, 229, were brought in by passenger planes, of which 26 had stimulants hidden in their bodies, such as swallowing.
At both Kansai and Fukuoka airports, Thai passengers have been caught by customs for trying to enter the country with stimulants in contraceptives.
The number of cases of smuggling that hide stimulants in the body has increased sharply last year from 6 cases three years ago and 5 cases of adulthood.
According to the Ministry of Finance, "If the number of immigrants increases, the risk of smuggling will increase as travel from overseas, which was restricted by the effects of the new coronavirus, resumes, so we would like to take thorough border measures."