Society

Tokyo cops nab British national in bitcoin sales of cocaine in Roppongi

Sep 27 (tokyoreporter.com) - As a part a crackdown on possession of illegal drugs by foreigners, Tokyo Metropolitan Police have re-arrested a male British national suspected of dealing cocaine in the Roppongi nightlife quarter via the virtual currency bitcoin, reports the Sankei Shimbun

In July, police searched the residence of Edward James Montague Reid, a 43-year-old resident of Minami Azabu in Minato Ward, and seized 239 grams of cocaine and 92 grams of kakuseizai, or stimulant drugs, with a combined street value of about 20 million yen.

Reid was arrested and prosecuted on suspicion of possession of stimulant drugs for the purpose of trafficking in July.

Police believe Reid sold illegal drugs to between 40 and 50 customers who frequent clubs in the Roppongi area between April and July. In handling the transactions, the defendant accepted bitcoin, police said.

In applying fresh charges, police this week re-arrested Reid for use of stimulant drugs and cocaine on around July 18. "[The illegal drugs] entered my body," the defendant was quoted by police in partially admitting to the latest allegations.

Surge in foreigners possessing illegal drugs

According to TV Asahi (Sept. 25), police have observed a surge in the number of foreigners possessing cocaine in Roppongi this year. Police are now investigating whether Reid is a member of a trafficking ring.

Do Bears Prefer Acorns or Berries?

Bear sightings across Japan have already climbed to nearly twice the level recorded during the same period last year, prompting entry bans in mountain areas behind Kyoto’s Ninna-ji Temple and the cancellation of hiking events in Kansai, while new research suggests that the key to reducing encounters may lie in understanding what bears eat in each region.

Copper Thieves Target Japanese Shrines

Copper roofing panels were stolen from several shrines in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, including a city-designated cultural property, in the latest case amid a nationwide surge in copper thefts targeting shrines and temples across Japan, where soaring metal prices have fueled crimes that leave historic religious buildings damaged, exposed to the elements, and facing repair costs of millions of yen.

1200-Year-Old Temple on Miyajima Reduced to Ashes

Flames broke out on the morning of May 20th on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, home to one of Japan's World Heritage sites, destroying Reikado Hall near the summit of Mount Misen.

From Bento Boxes to Garbage Bags, Rising Costs Hitting Daily Life Across Japan

Uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East is beginning to affect daily life in Japan, as concerns over crude oil supplies spread to restaurants, cleaning services and even household garbage disposal systems across the Kansai region.

Tochigi Robbery-Murder Suspect’s Wife Posted Dance Videos on Social Media

A 25-year-old woman arrested as a suspected ringleader in a robbery-murder case in Tochigi Prefecture once posted cheerful dance videos on social media and was remembered by those who knew her as an energetic and outgoing young woman.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Garbage Burnoff Spreads to 3 Buildings in Okayama

A fire that broke out in Kagamino, Okayama Prefecture, shortly after noon on May 20th destroyed three buildings, including a home, after flames from open burning spread to dead leaves and then to nearby structures.

Gang Members Arrested After Opening Office Near Nursery

Six people, including a senior member of a group affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate's Kohei-ikka faction, have been arrested on suspicion of opening a gang office in a prohibited area near a nursery school in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.

Six Police Officers Injured After Man Sprays Liquid at Station

A man who visited a police station in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in the early hours of May 21st allegedly sprayed a transparent liquid inside the building, causing six police officers to complain of eye and throat pain and be taken to hospital with minor injuries.