Japan authorities seize whopping US$550 million of crystal meth and arrest seven Chinese nationals including at least one Hongkonger in beach drugs bust

Drugs found on board boat in Minamiizu in joint operation between Japan Coast Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department

Shipment has estimated street value of HK$4.3 billion and is largest amount seized in country’s history

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The boat from which police confiscated the drugs is seen tied up in Minamiizu. Photo: AP

Published: 9:15pm, 5 Jun 2019Updated: 10:51pm, 5 Jun 2019

Japanese authorities have seized HK$4.3 billion (US$550 million) worth of crystal meth and arrested seven suspected drug traffickers, including at least one Hongkonger, in the country’s largest ever drugs bust.

The seven suspects, all Chinese men aged between 20 and 49, were taken into custody in Minamiizu, Shizuoka prefecture, in a joint operation between the Japan Coast Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department earlier this week.

Law enforcement sources said at least one Hongkonger was involved and Japanese authorities had notified the city’s related departments over the arrest.

According to Japanese officials, officers seized one tonne of the drug, also known as Ice, on board a boat at a beach in the area on Monday night.

The record haul was nearly the same amount of crystal meth that was seized in Japan in the whole of 2018. Photo: Alamy

Two of the suspects were caught unloading the drugs from the vessel, while the other five were arrested on Tuesday.

Police believe the consignment could have been transferred to the boat from another vessel while at sea.