TOKYO: Japan’s customs authorities seized a record 1,501 kilogram of stimulants in 2016, up 3.6% from the previous year, the Finance Ministry said.
The seized stimulants were valued at some ¥105 billion at the street price, according to the ministry. Stimulants accounted for 90 percent of the total illicit drugs seized.
The surge in stimulant smuggling is a matter of serious concern, a ministry official said.
The average amount of stimulants seized per case increased 2.8-fold to 14 kilograms, indicating smuggling attempts were becoming larger in scale.
