{
  "id": 7767501,
  "title": "3 Filipinos Nationals Referred to Prosecutors on Suspicion of Smuggling 154 Kilograms of Sausages into Japan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/3-filipinos-nationals-referred-to-prosecutors-on-suspicion-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T10:58:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
    "slug": "the-japan-news-by-the-yomiuri-shimbun",
    "url": "https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20260916-349072/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Three Filipino nationals were referred to prosecutors in Chiba, Japan, on suspicion of smuggling 154 kilograms of beef and pork sausages, along with other quarantine items, from the Philippines last November. The suspects, a 41-year-old man, his 31-year-old wife, and her 55-year-old father, have admitted to the charges, claiming they believed there was demand among Filipinos living in Japan and that they could sell the items at a high price. They have been charged with violating the Prevention of Infectious Animal Diseases in Livestock Law and the Customs Law. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry is on high alert for the potential domestic spread of \"African swine fever,\" a contagious disease that has been rapidly spreading across Asia. The virus could potentially be present in processed foods such as sausages, with a nearly 100% fatality rate if pigs or wild boars become infected.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}