Thai Cannabis Floods Japan, Becomes 2nd Highest Seized Amount Globally

On Feb 18, 2024 - The Japanese government revealed that cannabis seizures by customs officials have increased by 15% compared to last year. Financial ministry data indicates that the seized amount exceeded 3 tons for the first time in six years, reaching the second-highest recorded level with 1,531 kilograms seized, a 3.5-fold increase from the previous year. The surge may be related to misinformation on social media suggesting cannabis is not dangerous. 'Drug smuggling is extremely serious, and we will continue to enforce strict border control measures,' one official stated. The seized cannabis originated from three primary countries: 1. United States (43%), 2. Thailand (27%), and 3. Vietnam (8%). This total includes 318 kilograms of products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which became illegal after Japan's legal amendments in late 2024. Meanwhile, seizures of other stimulant drugs decreased by 53% to 840 kilograms.