By Hoai Anh  January 31, 2026 | 03:38 pm PT
Women walk past the arrival zone at Narita international airport in Narita, east of Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 2, 2020. Photo by Reuters
A Vietnamese passenger attempted to smuggle vegetable seeds into Japan by hiding them inside gloves to evade X-ray screening, but the items were ultimately detected by authorities.
Japan’s FNN on Jan. 22 broadcast footage showing plant and animal quarantine inspections at Narita International Airport in Tokyo.
Among the cases highlighted, authorities noted a particularly elaborate concealment method used by a female passenger from Vietnam.
During a manual inspection of the passenger’s luggage, quarantine officers found a large number of wool and rubber gloves stacked together. A closer examination revealed that each glove contained packets of cabbage and coriander seeds.
Officers also discovered a large plastic bag of seeds hidden at the bottom of a container of rubber gloves and tucked into gaps inside an electronics box.
At the same time, Japanese authorities also stopped several other passengers from intentionally bringing prohibited food items into the country.
One passenger from Indonesia had wrapped 56 chicken sausages in multiple layers of black nylon. Other passengers from China had various processed pork products, duck necks, and fresh fruits such as pears and apples confiscated, according to FNN.
Passengers bringing plants and plant products including fruits, vegetables, and seeds; or animal and animal products including meat, dairy, and eggs into Japan must declare them for inspection at a Plant and Animal Quarantine counter and present the required certification and documentation, according to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Those who bring these items into Japan without proper permission or documentation could face up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 3 million yen (US$19,381).
AloJapan.com