Eight Vietnamese Nationals Arrested Over Methamphetamine Possession at Osaka Minami "Vietnam Building"; Some Also Suspected of Illegal Overstay
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.
Osaka Prefectural Police announced by August 3, 2026 that it had arrested eight Vietnamese men, including Huy Van Phan, 23, of no fixed address and unemployed, on suspicion of violating the Stimulants Control Act (joint possession). They are accused of conspiring on June 28 of that year to possess approximately 0.2 grams of methamphetamine in a VIP room of a karaoke establishment inside a building in Nishi-Shinsaibashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka.
The seven-story building with one basement level houses numerous Vietnamese restaurants and nightclubs. When police first searched the entire building on June 28, they seized a large quantity of powder suspected to be illegal drugs; subsequent analysis confirmed it as methamphetamine, leading to the current arrests. The eight arrested men are mostly in their 20s and 30s and are believed to include technical intern trainees. There have also been reports that the karaoke establishment restricted entry to non-Vietnamese customers, and police are investigating whether this was intended to avoid detection of illegal drug activity. On August 5, police conducted a follow-up search of the premises involving approximately 45 investigators.
Current status: Sources differ on exactly how many of the eight arrested men are also suspected of illegal overstay (an Immigration Control Act violation), and a definitive figure could not be confirmed as of this writing. Whether the suspects admit to the charges also remains unclear. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported cases of methamphetamine smuggling and possession involving Vietnamese nationals include an attempted smuggling case using an international postal parcel bound for Spain (related coverage). Drug circulation within communities that include technical intern trainees and illegal overstayers continues to be uncovered in various regions.