Police have arrested and sent to prosecutors a 29-year-old man who claims to be a Kosovo refugee on suspicion that he tried to smuggle 8.2 kg of cannabis resin into Japan in February, police said Wednesday.
Ademaj Florim, who arrived at Narita airport Feb. 11 after flying from the Netherlands via Germany, is suspected of trying to smuggle the marijuana concealed in a bag with a false bottom, police said.
The marijuana had an estimated street value of 66 million yen, according to police.
Florim denied the allegations, telling police he did not know what was in the bag, adding a Moroccan acquaintance in the Netherlands had asked him to carry it to Japan.
Florim also was quoted as saying he had been living in the Netherlands as a refugee.
Police suspect a large-scale smuggling ring is behind the case as they have observed two attempts to smuggle cannabis resin into Japan using the same type of bag as Florim's earlier this year.