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Canadian Arrested in Japan for Smuggling $137M Worth of Meth




The Big Picture


Japanese police have arrested a Canadian man suspected of smuggling hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into the country. The drugs, hidden inside industrial machinery, were shipped from the United States. Authorities believe the suspect was working with others and are continuing their investigation.


The Arrest


Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested Vincent Yat Sum Yeung, a 38-year-old Canadian national and company executive living in Yokohama, on Wednesday. He is accused of bringing a large quantity of illegal stimulants into Japan in a highly sophisticated smuggling operation.


The Drug Bust


  • Quantity: Police discovered 320 kilograms (705 pounds) of methamphetamine.

  • Packaging: The drugs were divided into 321 bags, each containing 1 kilogram of meth.

  • Street Value: The seized meth is worth 21.2 billion yen ($137 million).


Authorities found the shipment stored at a warehouse in Kuki, a city north of Tokyo. The drugs had arrived inside a large milling machine, which was shipped in a container from Los Angeles in December 2023.


The Investigation


Police suspect Yeung was not acting alone and had unidentified accomplices. However, they have not disclosed further details as the investigation continues. Authorities are now working to track how the drugs were transported, who else was involved, and whether this case is linked to a larger drug smuggling network.


Why It Matters?


Japan has some of the world’s strictest drug laws, and smuggling large amounts of illegal substances can lead to harsh penalties, including life imprisonment. This case highlights the increasing complexity of international drug smuggling, with traffickers using advanced methods to move illicit substances across borders.


Authorities in Japan and internationally are expected to continue crackdowns on drug trafficking, with this case serving as a major warning for those attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.



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