Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2000
Source: Japan Times (Japan)
Copyright: 2000 The Japan Times
Contact:  Central P.O. Box 144, 352, Tokyo 100-8691
Website: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

DRUG ARRESTS JUMP 13.4% IN FIRST HALF OF YEAR TO 9,618

The number of people arrested for allegedly using amphetamines in the first 
six months of this year stood at 9,618, an increase of 1,140, or 13.4 
percent, from the same period last year, a survey by the National Police 
Agency showed Friday.

The rate of increase surpassed the 8.3 percent rise for the whole of 1999 
over 1998, according to the survey.

Of those who were investigated on suspicion of violating the Stimulant 
Drugs Control Law, 609 were minors and 220 were foreigners, mainly Iranians 
involved in drug smuggling, according to the survey.

The number of youths held over use or possession of amphetamines rose 45 
percent from the corresponding period last year.

The NPA said that reports from citizens not related to crime organizations 
and suspects themselves have soared and that an increasing number of people 
now use stimulant drugs bought on the street.

About 571.7 kg of stimulant drugs were seized in the first half of this 
year, down from 1,154.6 kg confiscated in the same period last year, but 
the figure exceeded the 549 kg haul for the whole of 1998, the NPA said.

NPA officials attributed the rise to the lower street value of amphetamines 
and the increase in the stimulant drug trade via the Internet and cellular 
phones.
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