Have You Phoned An Iranian Drug Dealer Recently?

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Five Iranians arrested over drug deals in upscale residential districts in Tokyo
Narcotics agents have busted an Iranian drug ring that sold cocaine and other stimulants to about 70 people a day on the streets of upscale residential areas in Tokyo's Minato Ward. Authorities said the suspects--five Iranian men ranging in age from 23 to 51--made an estimated 20 million yen a month for total sales of about 200 million yen since November last year...The suspects likely chose residential areas to peddle their drugs to avoid surveillance cameras in busier districts...Investigators said the group's sales increased sharply through word of mouth, and that they had sold drugs about 20,000 times before their arrests. The department believes their customers were mostly Japanese, including homemakers and company employees. who did not live in Minato Ward, but showed up there after arrangements were made...Abolfazl Zarbali, who has been indicted, recruited the other four Iranian nationals in Japan as sales agents. Around November last year, he put the four others in charges of three areas in Minato Ward -- Azabu, Shirokane and Takanawa -- for drug deals. Zarbali set up the appointments between his henchmen and the customers, the investigators said. The rare arrest of a leader of a drug ring, as well as the seizure of his cellphone, has raised hopes among investigators that they can pinpoint the distribution routes and determine where the suspects got their supply in Japan. The department also intends to track down customers through numbers left in Zarbali's cellphone and other information...more...

This TBS report includes a short video clip (which will soon disappear) showing one of the men dealing with a customer.

[wuchan]

one word, payphone.

[Iraira]

Repeat after me, "I have no idea whatsoever how my phone number got on that dealer's phone. It says that my name is HiraHira on the phone? Well, I'm IraIra, close , but obviously not me....thank you for your time officer and I hope you catch those reefer addicts real soon!"