MIE – Law enforcement has arrested a 50-year-old male Brazilian national who is suspected in a pair of incidents involving cocaine smuggling last year, reports the Ise Shimbun (Jan. 7).
On Tuesday, officers from the Suzuka Police Station rearrested Julio Henrique Date Miyahira, a company executive from Tsu City, on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act.
The suspect is accused of conspiring with an unknown individual to smuggle approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to a related party in Suzuka City on November 7.
The contraband has a street value of 75 million yen, police said.
Police have not revealed whether he has admitted to the allegations.
According to police, customs officials inspected the luggage upon arrival at Kansai International Airport and discovered cocaine hidden in a protein bag.
Customs and the prefectural police are continuing the investigation.
The suspect was first arrested last month for smuggling cocaine using a similar method in October.
Police believe the suspect has accomplices both within and outside of Japan. Law enforcement is also investigating any connections to drug trafficking organizations.
