Smugglers seeking new markets target Japan as cocaine use spreads among young people

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Japan is warning of a growing narcotics crisis as cocaine use among the youth escalates. Police officials have likened the situation to a war, citing the increasing number of arrests and rising public safety concerns. Cocaine is increasingly being targeted by smugglers as a lucrative drug to traffic into Japan.

In October, police apprehended five individuals, aged between 19 and 26, suspected of attempting to import cocaine into the country. The suspects, primarily Malaysians, were found carrying 5 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a pair of sneakers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. One of the suspects, a 24-year-old Malaysian, had been lured by a Telegram contact into becoming a drug courier.

The MPD's drugs and firearms control division reported a remarkable increase in cocaine-related offenses, with 415 arrests in 2025 compared to just 44 in 2015. The majority of those arrested are now under the age of 30, and a significant portion are Japanese citizens, rather than foreign nationals as was the case in previous years.

Police have identified two primary factors contributing to the spread of cocaine among young people. First, the drug is being promoted on social media as a fashionable and harmless substance, despite its known dangers and links to organized crime. False information suggesting cocaine's safety has been spreading online, making it more appealing to younger users.

Second, the international cocaine trade is shifting from its traditional routes through the United States to Asia and Oceania. With the United States intensifying its anti-drug measures since the Trump administration, countries like Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia face stricter regulations. Smugglers are now targeting Japan and other Asian nations as alternative markets to replace those lost to the U.S.