The Ishikawa Prefectural Police Wednesday arrested a 60-year-old director of Hokkoku Shimbun, a newspaper based in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, on suspicion of smuggling Rush, a so-called dangerous drug, into Japan.
According to the police, Hajime Saga of Kanazawa allegedly imported 12 bottles of liquid containing isobutyl nitrite from the United States by international mail in early and mid-November last year.
The police said the package including the bottles arrived at Narita International Airport the same month, and the Yokohama Customs detected the component.
Kiken (dangerous) drugs contain chemical agents that produce effects similar to illegal narcotics. Japan banned the possession and use of such drugs, previously called dappo (loophole) drugs, in 2014.
Hokkoku Shimbun spokesman Yoichi Sakano said the case is "truly regrettable." He said Saga has submitted a resignation letter but the firm will decide how to deal with it in line with police investigations.