Zombie Cigarette Drug Busts Rise Across Kansai
Authorities in Kyoto and Osaka have arrested three men in separate drug cases involving so-called zombie cigarettes containing the designated drug etomidate, as investigators step up efforts against the illegal trade in the Kansai region. (News On Japan)
Authorities in Kyoto and Osaka have apprehended three individuals in connection with drug cases involving zombie cigarettes. These illicit cigarettes contain the drug etomidate, a sedative used medically but dangerous when abused. In Kyoto, 59-year-old Masahiko Nishiyama and 56-year-old Teruhiko Kashiwa were arrested for allegedly importing etomidate from Malaysia.
The suspects reportedly introduced the drug into Japan through acquaintances. Osaka authorities arrested 31-year-old Tatsuhide Takahashi for possessing etomidate, zombie cigarettes, and other drugs for commercial use. Etomidate, when inhaled, can cause severe physical reactions including loss of coordination, involuntary movements, and profound sedation.
The drug is illegal in Japan, with manufacture, importation, sale, possession, purchase, and use for unauthorized purposes prohibited. Japanese authorities have been warning about the risks of etomidate-abusing vaping products, particularly after abuse cases were identified in Okinawa. The recent arrests suggest that authorities are encountering the issue beyond the initial areas of concern.
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