On September 3, Inoue Ensen Shoji, 57, a US citizen and martial artsit known as Ensen Inoue, was sentenced at Saitama District Court for violating the Narcotics Control Law and the Customs Law for smuggling chocolate containing narcotic ingredients by concealing it in his baggage.
The judge sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment and a suspended sentence of four years.
The judge noted that “the drug-containing substance he tried to bring into the country was not a small quantity, and that the offense was clever and malicious, including the replacement of the package.” On the other hand, he judged that a suspended sentence was appropriate because the defendant admitted his guilt and showed remorse.
According to the judgment, Inoue sent six chocolate bars containing narcotic ingredients from Hawaii to his home in Saitama City by international mail parcel on April 18, and he smuggled four drug-laden chocolate bars by concealing them in a carry-on case and boarding a flight to Narita Airport on May 22. Both were discovered by customs officers.
