Record 400 kg of cocaine worth ¥8 billion seized at Kobe port last month, sources say
A record 400 kilograms of cocaine was seized by customs authorities in October at Kobe port, investigative sources said Thursday. The latest seizure, with an estimated street value of ¥8 billion, more than doubles the previous record set when 177 kilograms were found at Mikawa ...
Ex-Toyota Verblitz player Ryota Kabashima receives suspended sentence for cocaine possession
Former Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima was given a suspended prison term Thursday for possessing cocaine. The Okazaki branch of the Nagoya District Court sentenced the 28-year-old to 14 months in prison, suspended for three years. Prosecutors had demanded an 18-month prison term. Kabashima's "addiction to ...
Former Toyota Verblitz player Ryota Kabashima pleads guilty to cocaine possession
Former Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima pleaded guilty on Thursday to possessing cocaine in his first court appearance in the case. "There is no mistake (in the indictment)," Kabashima, 28, said as his trial opened at the Nagoya District Court's Okazaki branch. Another player from Toyota ...
High tide: Millions of dollars worth of cocaine washes up on New Zealand beach
Cocaine worth millions of dollars has washed up on a New Zealand beach, with police urging the public Thursday to hand in any more packages that may turn up. Police were called to Bethells Beach in West Auckland on Wednesday evening when packages of the ...
Ex-Toyota Verblitz player Ryota Kabashima admits to cocaine possession
Former Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima was released on bail of ¥2 million ($18,460) on Friday, after admitting to a charge of possessing cocaine. "I am sorry for causing trouble to many people," Kabashima, 28, who faces a charge of violating the Narcotics Control ...
JRFU asks teams to interview players following recent drug arrests
The Japan Rugby Football Union on Wednesday requested all teams in the country's Top League interview their players following the arrests last month of two Toyota Verblitz members on suspicion of possessing cocaine. At a meeting in Tokyo, the sport's governing body asked representatives from ...
Steven Yates becomes second Toyota Verblitz player arrested on drug charge within a week
Another Toyota Verblitz player was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing cocaine, police said. Steven Yates, 35, has admitted to being in possession of a small amount of cocaine found in a plastic bag at his home in Nagoya the same day, the police said. Yates, ...
Toyota Verblitz flyhalf Ryota Kabashima was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing cocaine, police said, and the team has pulled out of the upcoming Top League Cup as a consequence. The 28-year-old Kabashima, also an employee of Toyota Motor Corp., is suspected of violating ...
Denki Groove's Pierre Taki given suspended sentence for cocaine use
The Tokyo District Court on Tuesday sentenced Pierre Taki, an actor and member of Japanese techno-pop duo Denki Groove, to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for using cocaine. The court ruled that Taki, 52, whose real name is Masanori Taki, snorted a ...
Over 200 bags of cocaine found in stomach of Japanese who died on plane
More than 200 bags of cocaine were found in the stomach and intestines of a Japanese man who died last week on a flight from Mexico to Japan, Mexican officials said Monday. An autopsy revealed that the 42-year-old man had swallowed 246 bags. The man ...
Pierre Taki of Japan techno-pop duo Denki Groove out on ¥4 million bail following cocaine charge
Pierre Taki, an actor and member of Japanese techno-pop duo Denki Groove, was released Thursday on bail of ¥4 million ($35,900) after he was indicted earlier this week on a charge of using cocaine. "Because of my anti-social behavior, I caused trouble and worry for ...
