Kyoto and Osaka police arrest men for importing “zombie tobacco” (etomidate)

Kyoto Prefectural Police arrested two unemployed men in their 50s—Nishiyama Masahiko, 59, and Kashihiko, 56—for importing the synthetic drug etomidate, commonly called “zombie tobacco,” from Malaysia. The arrests, made in June 2026, mark the first time Kyoto authorities have seized the substance, which was added to Japan’s list of designated drugs last year because it can cause severe health effects such as seizures and loss of consciousness. Both suspects have pleaded guilty and have been formally charged.

In a related operation, Osaka police detained 31‑year‑old Takashi Tatsuhide, also unemployed, on suspicion of possessing and distributing the same drug nationwide through a concealed mobile application. The Osaka case underscores a broader network for the illicit sale of etomidate across Japan.