MATSUE, Shimane Pref. (Kyodo) Police searched about 10 locations Friday linked to a Tokyo-based trading house that allegedly illegally exported to North Korea a freeze-dryer that has possible applications in biological weapons development.
Investigators from the Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectural police raided the offices of trading house Seishin Shoji and the residence of its 48-year-old president, both located in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward.
Police also searched the home of a 57-year-old unnamed businessman who is the former president of another trading house in Suginami Ward. The other locations searched are in Nagano and Shimane prefectures.
Freeze-dryers, which quickly dry solid substances in a vacuum, are mainly used to produce instant food.
Exports of the machines are tightly restricted because they can also be used to culture and store bacteria over long periods of time, and can be converted for use in biological weapons development.
Seishin Shoji is suspected of violating the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law, which requires exporters of such devices to apply for permission to export from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
The investigation has revealed that Seishin Shoji exported a freeze-dryer to North Korea from Yokohama via Taiwan in September 2002 without government permission, sources said.
Police discovered Seishin Shoji's suspected illegal export of the dryer in March 2003 while looking into the theft of 290 bicycles in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The bicycles were also exported to North Korea by Seishin Shoji.
