Six Myanmar Nationals Referred Over Attempted Smuggling of 7 Kilograms of Designated Drug "Mitragynine"; Two Indicted by Oita Prosecutors
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Moji Customs announced in July 2026 that it had referred six Myanmar nationals to the Oita District Public Prosecutors Office on suspicion of violating the Customs Act (attempted import). According to reports by OAB Oita Asahi Broadcasting and other outlets, the six are accused of shipping approximately 7 kilograms of powdered mitragynine, a designated drug said to produce stimulant-like effects, from Thailand to Oita Prefecture via international parcel delivery in July of the previous year. The parcel was discovered by customs officers during an import inspection after arriving at Kansai International Airport. The six are acquaintances and are believed to have intended the drug for personal use. This marked the prefecture's first such case.
The Oita District Public Prosecutors Office announced on July 30 that it had indicted two of the six men in the Oita District Court on charges of violating the Customs Act (attempted import) and the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act.
Current status: The disposition of the remaining four men and whether each of the six admits to the allegations remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.