TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested two males from Chiba Prefecture who’re suspected of smuggling round 1 ton of gold bars from South Korea during the last two years, reviews the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 21).
Based on interviews with investigative sources on Thursday, police consider that Hitoshi Tateno, 53, of Narashino City, Chiba, and Jun Sakurai, 45, an organization government from Ichikawa City, Chiba, could have profited by avoiding paying roughly 1 billion yen in taxes, which is required on the time of import.
According to investigators, the 2 males conspired with an unknown particular person and boarded flights from South Korea to Haneda Airport in August final 12 months whereas in possession of 13 kilograms of gold.
Upon arrival, Tateno did not declare the import of 4 kilograms of gold. Sakurai did not declare the opposite 9 kilograms.
Police allege they tried to evade roughly 15 million yen in consumption tax and different prices at customs at Haneda Airport.
Police have accused the pair of violating the Customs Act and the Consumption Tax Act.
1,000 kilograms
Police started an investigation after Tateno was discovered to have left the pouch containing the gold bars in an elevator on the airport.
The suspects have remodeled 200 journeys between Japan and South Korea since 2023. They are believed to have offered a complete of over 1,000 kilograms of gold bars at valuable metals sellers and different areas in Tokyo between March of 2023 and August of final 12 months for about 10.8 billion yen. This represents an evasion of greater than 1 billion yen in taxes.
The money obtained from the gross sales is believed to have been taken to South Korea. Police consider that somebody in South Korea ready the gold bars and is investigating the acquisition route intimately.