KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested a 41-year-old assemblyman in the town of Hayama for the possession of illegal drugs in Yokohama, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Feb. 17).
At 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, police found Shinichi Hosokawa (@shin_hosokawa) to be in possession of 0.65 grams of stimulant drugs (valued at 45,500 yen) on a street in the Sueyoshicho area of Naka Ward. The drugs were inside a plastic bag.
Hosokawa denies the allegations, telling police that the drugs are not his. “The police put the drugs (inside my pocket),” he is quoted. “I have no faith in the police.”
Just prior to the discovery by police, Hosokawa was seen making contact with a man believed to be a trafficker in illegal drugs at a convenience store in Sueyoshicho.
A subsequent search of a left jacket pocket of Hosokawa by police revealed the drugs and a syringe.
Hosokawa was previously the private secretary of Kenji Eda, a former president of the Japan Innovation Party. He was elected to office in April of last year.
