-
-
- Suspected Sale of 180 Tablets of Psychotropic Drugs via SNS Black Market – 52-Year-Old Woman Arrested on Suspicion of Selling to 50 People Nationwide for Over 10 Million Yen
- インサイトエクスプレス
- ──First, please give us the news explanation. ──Yuzumi Oda: The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has arrested a 52-year-old unemployed woman living in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. She is suspected of selling psychotropic drugs such as zolpidem, which is used to treat insomnia, to people she met through social media. According to the investigation, last year this woman allegedly transferred 180 tablets of the drug for profit. Furthermore, until October last year, she is believed to have obtained medicines and pharmaceuticals via flea market sites and sold them to about 50 people nationwide, earning over 10 million yen in total. She has admitted to the charges, saying she used the money for living expenses. Psychotropic drugs can only be used with a doctor’s examination and prescription. Selling or buying them without permission is prohibited by law because of the risk of health damage and dependence. This case once again highlights how dangerous and illegal it is to trade medicines via social media or the internet. ──If arrested and the guilt is confirmed, what happens to the 10 million yen in sales? ──Yuzumi Oda: In short, it will no longer be “money you can freely keep.” If seized by the police or prosecutors and recognized in court as “money obtained through crime,” it will be confiscated by the state or the same amount will be ordered to be paid (as a surcharge). Even if the money is no longer in hand, you can still be told to “pay the same amount.” - Seizure and confiscation: Money or bank accounts related to the case are seized during the investigation. If a guilty verdict is finalized, the illegally obtained portion is confiscated (becomes state property). - Surcharge: Even if it has been spent and is gone, you may be ordered to pay an amount equivalent to what you gained. - Compensation for damages: In cases where the other party suffered injury or damage, the money may go toward compensation. However, buyers in illegal transactions are not necessarily entitled to get their money back. - Separate from fines or prison terms: Confiscation/surcharge can be imposed in addition to fines or imprisonment. - Tax issues: Even illegal income is considered “income” and may be subject to separate tax investigations (confiscation does not automatically make the tax liability zero). In short, the 10 million yen cannot be “kept as is” and will likely be taken by the state or require payment of the same amount. Additional payments (fines, taxes, compensation) may also be imposed. ──You really can’t get away with doing bad things. ──Yuzumi Oda: That’s right. Even if it seems like you’ve gained something temporarily, the losses that follow are far greater than you imagine. Once trust is broken, it’s hard to restore; money and time don’t come back, and freedom can be taken away. And nowadays, records of transactions and money movements are kept in detail. Even if you think you’re anonymous, connecting the dots will inevitably lead back to you. That’s why it’s good to have your own standards to ask yourself: - Will this short-term gain harm my future self? - Will it make someone cry (the other person, myself, or my family)? - Can I proudly say “I did it” later? If you feel “no” to even one of these, stop right there. That alone can greatly reduce the chances of a regretful future. ──How do you see and feel about this news? ──Yuzumi Oda: What I first thought is that medicine is only truly safe when it includes not just its “effect” but also its “handling.” Psychotropic drugs can help when you can’t sleep or feel mentally unstable, but if you get the amount or usage wrong, they can put a heavy burden on your body and mind. That’s why a doctor’s examination and prescription are always paired with them. What’s not widely known is that such medicines have a “traceability” system that allows tracking of where they came from and where they went. The codes and numbers on the box or blister pack are “footprints” that can be traced back to the manufacturing plant and shipping destination. This is why medicines that enter illegal channels can still be found, even if it takes time. Online transactions may seem anonymous, but in reality, money flows, delivery records, and device information are all recorded in detail. When a case arises, these connect into a single line. Investigators often call this “reeling in an invisible thread.” This news is a reminder not only of the dangers of drugs but also of the reality that “things are always connected, even where you can’t see.” Choosing a path that allows you to live safely for the long term, rather than chasing short-term gains, ultimately protects both yourself and those around you. It’s an opportunity to reaffirm that simple truth.
- 投稿日時:2025/09/17 19:18
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-