QUOTE
The number of suspected drug users arrested or reported to prosecutors reached 13,346 in 2005, marking the first increase in five years, the National Police Agency (NPA) said.
Of them, 6,847, or 51.3 percent, were members of organized crime groups, suggesting that the trade in illegal drugs is a major source of revenue for the gangs.
About 80 percent of crime group members belonged to three major organizations, the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Sumiyoshi-kai and the Inagawa-kai.
Of the 13,346 people involved in illegal drug cases, 412 were foreigners, up 38 from 2004.
Meanwhile, more than 570,000 ecstasy tablets were seized in 2005, marking a new record. The amount of seized stimulants was some 406 kilograms, a drop of 124 kilograms from the previous year.
Of them, 6,847, or 51.3 percent, were members of organized crime groups, suggesting that the trade in illegal drugs is a major source of revenue for the gangs.
About 80 percent of crime group members belonged to three major organizations, the Yamaguchi-gumi, the Sumiyoshi-kai and the Inagawa-kai.
Of the 13,346 people involved in illegal drug cases, 412 were foreigners, up 38 from 2004.
Meanwhile, more than 570,000 ecstasy tablets were seized in 2005, marking a new record. The amount of seized stimulants was some 406 kilograms, a drop of 124 kilograms from the previous year.