TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 44-year-old man in Okinawa Prefecture for the alleged sale of stimulant drugs to former baseball player Kazuhiro Kiyohara, reports Nikkan Sports (Feb. 16).
At approximately 9 p.m. on January 31, Kazuyuki Kobayashi allegedly sold 0.2 grams of kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs, to Kiyohara for 40,000 yen in a convenience store parking lot in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture.
Kobayashi denies the allegations.
Three days after the alleged transaction, Tokyo police arrested Kiyohara, 48, after a search of his residence revealed 0.1 grams of stimulant drugs.
Police believe Kobayashi regularly sold drugs to Kiyohara in Gunma and Tochigi Prefecture. After making purchases from the suspect, Kiyohara then moved to hotels in Tokyo.
Following Kiyohara’s arrest, police were unable to contact Kobayashi and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was located at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday in Okinawa.
Over his 22-year career, Kiyohara established himself as one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s greatest sluggers. In his first season with the Seibu Lions in 1986, he slugged 31 home runs and was awarded Rookie of the Year honors. He ended his career with 525 home runs, which ranks fifth in NPB history.
