Five Malaysians arrested in Japan over alleged 5kg cocaine smuggling attempt
Five Malaysian nationals have been arrested at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on suspicion of attempting to smuggle about 5kg of cocaine worth 120 million yen (approximately US$757,000)) into Japan. The drugs were allegedly concealed beneath the insoles of their shoes after they arrived from Kuala Lumpur.
JAPAN: Five Malaysian nationals, comprising three men and two women aged between 19 and 26, have been arrested in Japan over an alleged attempt to smuggle about 5kg of cocaine into the country through Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday (10 October 2026) after customs officers allegedly discovered the drugs concealed beneath the insoles of their shoes when they arrived from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on 9 October, according to Japanese media reports.
The cocaine was estimated to have a street value of approximately 120 million yen (approximately US$757,000).
Cocaine allegedly hidden in shoe soles
According to TV Asahi, customs officers initially found cocaine beneath the insoles of shoes worn by two of the suspects.
The discovery prompted officers to question the pair, who reportedly said they were visiting Japan for sightseeing with friends.
Officers subsequently inspected the shoes of the other three suspects, who were still in the airport’s arrival terminal, and allegedly found cocaine concealed in the same way.
Each shoe reportedly contained about 500g of cocaine, meaning each suspect was allegedly carrying approximately 1kg in total.
Fuji News Network reported that customs officers became suspicious after noticing that one suspect’s shoes had unusually thick soles.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s Drug and Firearm Control Division and Haneda Customs arrested the five on suspicion of violating Japan’s Narcotics Control Law.
Four suspects reportedly admit allegations
Japanese media reported that four of the five suspects admitted to the allegations during questioning, while a 25-year-old woman denied them.
The woman reportedly claimed she did not know that the package she was carrying contained cocaine.
According to reports by Japanese broadcasters, one of the male suspects said he had been recruited through an acquaintance of a friend for a job involving the overseas transportation of illegal drugs.
He reportedly told investigators that he had been offered RM8,000 (approximately US$1,957.66) to transport the drugs and had received a pair of shoes to conceal them.
The recruitment was allegedly arranged through Telegram.
Police are investigating whether the group was recruited by a Malaysia-based criminal syndicate to carry out international drug smuggling.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Other recent alleged drug-smuggling cases involving Malaysians
The Haneda Airport arrests follow several other reported cases involving Malaysians suspected of involvement in cross-border drug trafficking.
On 1 October, Lao authorities detained 13 people, including a Malaysian co-pilot, in connection with the alleged trafficking of 521kg of crystal methamphetamine through Malaysia and Laos. The shipment was believed to be intended for the Philippines.
Earlier in July, Indonesian authorities detained a Malaysian pilot at the same airport after he was allegedly found bringing 25kg of ecstasy pills, numbering more than 70,000, into the country.
In September, five Malaysians were arrested at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta over the alleged smuggling of 5kg of etomidate, which was reportedly concealed inside their shoes.
