Kyodo via Yahoo: Japan's illegal drug seizures up 23% in 2004
Customs houses across Japan confiscated 1,358 kilograms of illegal drugs and stimulants in 2004, up 23 percent from the previous year and topping the 1 ton level for the second straight year, the Finance Ministry said Friday. Confiscation of tablet drugs, such as MDMA, better known as ecstasy, reached an all-time high of 429,000 tablets, up 11 percent from the previous record high marked in 2003, the ministry said. Of the 1,358 kg, hemp accounted for 889 kg, up 16 percent from the previous year and also hitting a new record high. Customs houses seized 385 kg of stimulant drugs, up 18 percent. The tally included 164 kg from China and 44 kg from Canada. There were no confiscated stimulants from North Korea for the second straight year. Seizure of firearms came to five pieces for the reporting year, down from 12 in 2003.
