A suspect, Yonamine, is being sent for prosecution. He is accused of attempting to import THC-laced cannabis liquid hidden inside a clay dish. Hiding Cannabis in a Clay Dish On the morning of December 8, a young man emerged from Ōtsuka Police Station. While his expression was unreadable, his gaze wandered aimlessly. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police re-arrested 23-year-old Shō Yonamine on November 26 on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Control Law (importing for commercial purposes). He is alleged to have smuggled cannabis liquid containing the illegal compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in May of this year. “Yonamine allegedly shipped about 1.1 kg of cannabis liquid hidden inside a package from the U.S. to an address in Yokohama. The liquid-filled bag was wrapped in plastic and placed inside a clay dish. He is believed to have coordinated the order with a U.S. supplier using a high-security app. Yonamine had previously been arrested on November 5 for importing THC-laced liquid in June. During interrogation, he reportedly stated, ‘I don’t want to say.’” – National newspaper social affairs reporter In recent years, seizures of cannabis liquid have been increasing. According to 2024 National Police Agency statistics, the seizure of dried cannabis has significantly decreased compared to the previous year, while seizures of concentrated cannabis such as cannabis liquid and resin nearly doubled from approximately 36 kg to 68 kg. Arrests related to cannabis resin remained flat, suggesting that the increase is primarily in liquid forms. Former narcotics officer Ryōji Takahama provides an explanation for this trend.