SAITAMA (TR) – Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested new gang boss believed to be the mastermind in a case in which the illegal drug ketamine was smuggled from Thailand, reports TV Asahi (Oct. 10).
According to police, Kyohei Nagai, a 38-year-old boss within the Sumiyoshi-kai syndicate, is suspected in the smuggling of approximately 150 grams of the illegal drug ketamine through the postal mail from Thailand for purpose of sale last year.
The ketamine was placed in a face powder container for cosmetics, with a street value of approximately 3 million yen.
The suspect is said to have used the address of a woman with whom he is acquainted as the destination for the package containing the ketamine. He also instructed her to receive it, police said.
Nagai is already in custody for three other crimes, including the alleged storing of cocaine and ketamine for profit at an apartment complex in Saitama City.
Upon this latest arrest, Nagai chose to remain silent, police said.
Police are investigating the possibility that Nagai may have also served as the mastermind in other smuggling cases.