Japan has no recorded case of fentanyl seized, finance minister says

REUTERS
June 27, 2025

Packets of fentanyl mostly in powder form and methamphetamine, which U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they seized from a truck crossing into Arizona from Mexico, is on display during a news conference at the Port of Nogales, Arizona, on Jan. 31, 2019. Handout

Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Friday there have been no recorded cases of synthetic drug fentanyl being seized by the customs department, neither as illegal exports nor illegal imports, in six years through 2024.

Kato made the comments at a regular news conference when asked about a Nikkei business daily report this week that a Chinese organization allegedly used a base in Japan to smuggle chemicals to make fentanyl into the U.S.

“Japan will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs,” Kato said.

A key figure in the group registered a company in the city of Nagoya and until at least July 2024 issued instructions from Japan on the delivery of the dangerous opioid and on the management of funds, the Nikkei reported.

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