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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 7 sources · 27 days · First seen · Last updated

Drug smuggling recruitment in Japan

Overview

Japanese authorities have intercepted several drug smuggling operations at major airports, highlighting a trend of transnational criminal organizations using deceptive recruitment tactics.

In September, arrests were made involving foreign nationals, including American and Taiwanese women, who were caught transporting cannabis and etomidate. These individuals reported being recruited via social media with promises of high-paying jobs or covered travel expenses, often claiming they were unaware of the illicit contents in their luggage.

By October, investigations shifted toward the masterminds behind such operations. A Malaysian couple from Sarawak is suspected of orchestrating a scheme that involved recruiting friends for a trip to Japan to carry cocaine concealed in shoes. Authorities have noted that these syndicates increasingly target individuals through social media and travel offers to serve as disposable couriers.

Entities

Haneda Airport · Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department · Japan · Tokyo · Datuk Hussein Omar Khan

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 5 sources
    Malaysian couple suspected of recruiting drug mules for Japan operation

    A Sarawakian couple is suspected of recruiting three others to act as drug mules, leading to the seizure of five kilograms of cocaine at Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

  2. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Japan arrests foreign nationals for drug smuggling via social media recruitment

    Japanese police have arrested several foreign nationals, including Americans and a Taiwanese woman, for smuggling cannabis and etomidate after they were recruited via social media for high-paying courier jobs.

Sources

folgefonnsenteret.no · heartbeats.jp · kosmo.com.my · malay.news · malaysiatribune.news · tvsarawak.my · utusan.com.my