Vietnamese women face prosecution for smuggling cannabis into Japan

The women were detained after the cannabis was discovered hidden in four suitcases packed with dried shrimp and fish, which they had imported from Thailand through Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan on Oct. 12.

Osaka Prefectural Police announced Tuesday that the two Vietnamese nationals, Ta Thi Linh, 26, residing in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Hoang Thuy Tien, 25, residing in Saitama Prefecture, were arrested and referred to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Act, according to Nippon.

Both suspects are reportedly office workers in Japan.

The four suitcases contained a total of 31 kg of tightly compressed cannabis.

Customs officers at Kansai Airport discovered the drug during an inspection, noting that the luggage was packed with food items like dried shrimp and dried fish.

This bust is considered the largest cannabis seizure at Kansai Airport since it opened in 1994. The estimated market value of the seized cannabis is over 155 million yen (US$993,000), Asahi reported.

Japanese authorities suspect the two women were working for an unidentified criminal organization, as evidence suggests they received instructions through a secure messaging app. This potential link suggests the incident may constitute an organized crime offense.