The death of a young Vietnamese man and the reality of the drug epidemic that transcends nationality is uncovered at a club in Osaka

This year, a young man lost his life in Minami, Osaka's downtown area.

What emerged in the background of the police investigation was a drug epidemic that transcended nationality.

"People are falling down."

In May of this year, a Vietnamese man in his 20s was found unconscious leaning against a wall inside a building that houses a nightclub in Minami.

Store personnel called 911 around 5 a.m. He was taken to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

140 people searched a corner of Amemura

According to the Osaka Prefectural Police, an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was drug intoxication, including the synthetic drug MDMA.

The venue is the ``68K-Club'' where Vietnamese people gather.

It is known as the ``America Village'' in Minami, and is located in an area packed with vintage clothing stores, live music venues, and bars, and bustling with young people and foreign tourists.

According to the International Investigation Division, an acquaintance of the deceased man told prefectural police that he knew from social media that it was a store where drugs were sold.

Several other statements were obtained from people who frequented the store, including statements about illegal drugs that were ``widespread in the store'' and ``I bought them at the store.''

The Vietnamese man who died bought and ingested drugs here.

The prefectural police made that decision, and at the end of August, about 140 people raided the house, believing it might be a base for drug dealing.

Prefectural police checked the belongings of two Japanese store employees and more than 150 Vietnamese people who were at the scene. A large number of powders suspected to be illegal drugs were seized.

In addition, nine Vietnamese nationals were arrested on suspicion of violating immigration laws. According to investigators, four of them were re-arrested for violating the Narcotics Control Law for using illegal drugs.

“Two major hubs of drug trafficking”

This store was not the only store searched by prefectural police.

At the end of June, police raided a multi-tenant building in Minami, commonly known as the ``79 Building,'' which houses multiple stores catering to Vietnamese people.

It is approximately 200 meters in a straight line from "68K-Club". The Dotonbori River flows nearby.

This seven-story building housed several Vietnamese-related businesses, including nightclubs, restaurants, and karaoke.

In August, prefectural police arrested eight Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of possessing stimulants inside the building during a raid.

In October, three Vietnamese nationals and a Japanese man who worked for a building management company were arrested during a raid on suspicion of possessing MDMA and ketamine for commercial purposes.

According to a senior prefectural police official, they are continuing to investigate the 68K-Club and 79 Building, which they believe are the two major hubs for Vietnamese drug trafficking in Osaka.

According to investigators, both operators deny involvement in drug dealing or use.

Men and women inhale "powder like salt"