Pubdate: Mon, 18 Feb 2008
Source: Daily Yomiuri (Japan)
Copyright: 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun
Contact:  http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/main/main-e.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/629
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

SEIZURE OF NARCOTIC PILLS AT RECORD-HIGH 330,000

Tokyo Customs seized about 331,000 pills of MDMA and  other synthetic
narcotics last year, a record high,  officials said Saturday.

Customs officials fear more and more people are taking  MDMA, better
known as ecstasy, as the drug is  relatively cheap. Prices of
stimulant drugs spiked  following a series of crackdowns on narcotics
smuggled  from North Korea.

Tokyo Customs is keeping a close eye on shipments and  luggage
imported via Narita and Haneda airports as well  as Tokyo, Yokohama
and Niigata ports.

The number of seized ecstasy pills and other synthetic  narcotics
reached 317,000 units in 2003. However, the  figure had maintained a
downward trend thereafter,  sinking to about 113,500 in 2006.
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