KUALA LUMPUR – Five Malaysians have been arrested in Japan on suspicion of smuggling about five kilogrammes of cocaine into the country, with the drugs allegedly concealed beneath the insoles of their shoes.
The cocaine, seized at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, has an estimated street value of 120 million yen (RM3.1 million), according to Japanese media reports.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday after customs officers discovered cocaine beneath the insoles of shoes worn by two of them upon arrival from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kyodo News and Nippon News Network reported.
Each shoe reportedly contained 500 grammes of cocaine. Subsequent questioning raised suspicions that the two suspects had been travelling with others, prompting authorities to search three more individuals at the airport. Cocaine was also found concealed in their footwear.
Police suspect the group may have been recruited as drug couriers. Investigations found that some of the suspects were facing financial difficulties and had communicated with an unidentified individual through a messaging application offering a high degree of anonymity, Bernama reported.
Four of the five suspects have admitted to the allegations, while one has denied them, according to police.
Japanese authorities are investigating the group’s suspected involvement in an international drug smuggling operation, including possible links to a wider trafficking syndicate.
The arrests are being investigated under Japan’s Narcotics Control Act, with the allegations involving the possession or importation of drugs for profit. – October 13, 2026