TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested two men from Chiba Prefecture who are suspected of smuggling around 1 ton of gold bars from South Korea over the last two years, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 21).
Based on interviews with investigative sources on Thursday, police believe that Hitoshi Tateno, 53, of Narashino City, Chiba, and Jun Sakurai, 45, a company executive from Ichikawa City, Chiba, may have profited by avoiding paying approximately 1 billion yen in taxes, which is required at the time of import.
According to investigators, the two men conspired with an unknown individual and boarded flights from South Korea to Haneda Airport in August last year while in possession of 13 kilograms of gold.
Upon arrival, Tateno failed to declare the import of 4 kilograms of gold. Sakurai failed to declare the other 9 kilograms.
Police allege they attempted to evade approximately 15 million yen in consumption tax and other charges at customs at Haneda Airport.
Police have accused the pair of violating the Customs Act and the Consumption Tax Act.
1,000 kilograms
Police began an investigation after Tateno was found to have left the pouch containing the gold bars in an elevator at the airport.
The suspects have made over 200 trips between Japan and South Korea since 2023. They are believed to have sold a total of over 1,000 kilograms of gold bars at precious metals dealers and other locations in Tokyo between March of 2023 and August of last year for approximately 10.8 billion yen. This represents an evasion of more than 1 billion yen in taxes.
The cash obtained from the sales is believed to have been taken to South Korea. Police believe that someone in South Korea prepared the gold bars and is investigating the acquisition route in detail.
