The amount of illicit drugs such as stimulants seized at ports and airports nationwide last year increased by nearly 80% from the previous year, making it the second largest seizure on record. Due to increased travel to and from overseas, the number of cases brought in on passenger planes has increased, and large-scale arrests have occurred one after another.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Finance, last year, there were 815 cases of smuggling of illicit drugs such as stimulants and cannabis intercepted by customs at ports and airports across the country, a 22% decrease compared to the previous year.
However, the number of smuggling cases using passenger planes was 262, an increase of nearly three times that of the previous year, and the Ministry of Finance believes that this is due to the relaxation of border measures against the new coronavirus and an increase in travel to and from overseas. Masu.
Meanwhile, the total amount seized was 2,406 kg, an increase of 79% from the previous year, making it the second largest seizure on record after 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, 704 kg of stimulants, the largest sea cargo ever, were seized from a cargo ship that entered Tokyo Port from the United Arab Emirates, and 113 kg of stimulants were seized from air cargo that arrived at Narita Airport from Mexico. This was due to a series of large-scale raids, including the seizure of.
Customs officials say that strengthening cooperation with overseas related organizations and introducing new inspection equipment have led to large-scale busts, and that they will continue to carry out strict enforcement.