Discovered by Chance in an Apartment Fire—Why a 50-Something Taxi Driver Was Growing Cannabis

Apartment Fire Brings the Case to Light

Just after 9 a.m. on February 19, a middle-aged man with a shaved head appeared from the Kodaira Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. The man, reportedly a taxi driver, walked under police escort, staring blankly straight ahead. Perhaps the arrest came as a bolt from the blue.

The Higashimurayama Police Station had arrested Naoki Kubota (54) on February 17 on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law. Between March and late September of last year, he allegedly cultivated five cannabis plants in an apartment room in Higashimurayama City where he was living at the time. The discovery of the crime was by chance.

“In late September of last year, a fire broke out near the washing machine outlet in Kubota’s apartment. Someone noticed the smoke detector and called 119. The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical leak.

At the time, Kubota was out for work, but firefighters who rushed in to put out the fire noticed suspicious potted plants in the living room and reported them to the police. The plants were cannabis, which when dried amounted to 25 grams. Kubota admitted, ‘It is true that I cultivated cannabis at home,’ but there is no evidence he used it himself. Police are investigating the purpose of cultivation and how he obtained the plants,” a journalist from a national newspaper reported.

Former narcotics officer Ryoji Takahama commented on the case:

“It could have been cultivated for profit, but proving that would be difficult. Twenty-five grams, when dried and rolled into cigarettes, is about 50 cigarettes. Some lights were seized, but no full-scale cultivation equipment was found. Claiming that he cultivated for personal use wouldn’t be unnatural. There are many cases where people grow two or three pots on balconies or in closets for personal use.

However, there have been past cases where taxi drivers sold drugs to passengers, so Kubota may have cultivated and sold cannabis previously. But in this case, it was discovered by chance, and there is no information, so it’s purely speculative.”

The number of arrests for cannabis cultivation has more than doubled in recent years compared to ten years ago. In addition to this case, at least three other incidents have been reported this year so far.

Cannabis is profitable

On January 13, the Ibaraki Prefectural Police arrested a 36-year-old unemployed Vietnamese man in Tsukubamirai City for violating the Cannabis Cultivation Regulation Act (for profit) for cultivating 122 cannabis plants in a residence in Joso City. A 27-year-old Vietnamese welder was also arrested for cultivating 128 cannabis plants in a residence in Bando City.

The unemployed man was re-arrested on February 2 on suspicion of cultivating 76 cannabis plants for profit in his detached house and possessing approximately 413.8 grams of cannabis (worth about 2 million yen).

On January 21, the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a 51-year-old izakaya owner in Higashiyodogawa Ward, Osaka City, and a 68-year-old unemployed man in Kyotanabe City. The two were suspected of conspiring to cultivate 75 cannabis plants for profit at the unemployed man’s house. The izakaya owner was selling 1 gram for 4,000 yen to customers at his bar. About 975 grams of cannabis (worth about 4.9 million yen), including potted plants, were seized from their residences.

On February 12, a 32-year-old unemployed Vietnamese man was arrested by the Ibaraki Prefectural Police on suspicion of cultivating 208 cannabis plants for profit in a Tsukuba City residence rented under someone else’s name. Earlier, in January of this year, he had been arrested at the same residence for possessing approximately 9.2 grams of dried cannabis, violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.

Why are cannabis cultivation cases increasing? Former narcotics officer Ryoji Takahama points to the following background:

“In the Showa era, when all drugs were handled by organized crime, methamphetamine was dominant. About 30 years ago, Iranians began trading cannabis, which then spread explosively. Some countries have legalized cannabis, so many young people feel no guilt. Furthermore, with the development of communication devices and social media, users can easily become sellers. Organized crime groups noticed the growing demand for cannabis and started large-scale cultivation in houses and warehouses, thinking cannabis is profitable, which is why arrests have increased.”

Whether suspect Kimura was growing cannabis for personal use or to make money remains unclear. In any case, carelessly cultivating it can undoubtedly lead to serious consequences.