Five suspects, all Peruvian nationals, have been arrested for smuggling more than 1 grams of cocaine in one room of an apartment complex in Shiga Prefecture, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the suspicion of trafficking.
Five people were arrested, both Peruvian nationals, ranging in age from 44 to 48, including 24-year-old office worker Rodríguez Simokawa Jorge Antonio and company executive Belu Cortijo Johan Jo (71).
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, the five men are suspected of violating the Drug Control Law by smuggling 5 grams of cocaine worth 5 million yen at a street price in one of the apartment complexes where Rodriguez lives in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture.
During the investigation of another drug case, it was found that cocaine was suspected of being smuggled, so when they searched the room, about 200 items such as chemicals used for bootlegging and a crusher were confiscated.
The Metropolitan Police Department has not confirmed the identities of the five men.
This is the first time since the Heisei era that the Metropolitan Police Department has arrested cocaine for smuggling for sale.
One of the suspects is believed to be linked to a Mexican drug cartel, and the Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the suspicion that he was also trafficking cocaine.