Japanese police believe that gangsters from Hong Kong and the mainland are targeting the nation's lucrative drugs market, filling the gap left by last year's campaign against narcotics being smuggled from North Korea.
Last Monday, customs and police officers in Osaka announced the arrest of four mainlanders, and the seizure of nearly 640kg of cannabis, amphetamines and Ecstasy that had arrived in the port city in containers via Vancouver.
The authorities believe Canada's west coast is a favoured shipment point for mainland and Hong Kong gangs, as they avoid the closely scrutinised seaways between Japan and the rest of Asia.
The haul was one of the largest in Japan, signalling to police that gangs are willing to take bigger risks.
'The problem really started last year, after we arrested a major underworld group that was deeply involved in smuggling drugs between North Korea and Japan,' said Kotaro Hara, of the national police drugs team.
'That cut a major route of drugs into Japan, but other groups, including foreign drug syndicates, are now trying to penetrate the market.'
