KANAGAWA (TR) – As a part of an ongoing crackdown, Kanagawa Prefectural Police on Wednesday morning busted a shop specializing in herbs in Yokohama for the sale of illegal drugs, reports Nippon News Network (April 1).
At approximately 11:00 a.m., officers raided shop Patio, located in Naka Ward, and took Ryoji Mori, 38, into custody for the sale of so-called “dangerous drugs.” Officers also seized nearly 100 packets containing the contraband.
Possession and use of such drugs, which have chemical structures that can vary in order to exploit loopholes in the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, had not been illegal until revised legislation went into effect in April of last year.
Mori has reportedly denied the allegations. “I didn’t know (the packets) contained illegal drugs,” the suspect is quoted by police, according to Yomiuri Television (April 1).
Law enforcement is currently allocating more resources to eradicate the drugs, which are manufactured with chemicals smuggled into Japan from China, according to TV Asahi (April 1).
Police became aware of the illegal merchandise at Patio after a customer complained of breathing difficulties due to usage of drugs purchased at the shop last year.