On 6/10, Osaka provincial police arrested Tran Thi Thu Huyen, 36, owner of Frechi, and her husband Tomoyuki Takeshige, 47. They face charges of violating Japan's Customs Law and Plant Protection Law.

The couple resides in Higashiosaka city. Frechi, Huyen's company, specializes in importing vegetables and fruits from Vietnam. Takeshige, a freelancer, also assisted his wife with importing Vietnamese agricultural products, according to officials.

Cartons labeled "mung beans" containing Vietnamese rice stored at the Suminoe district customs office, Osaka, on 8/8. *Photo: Asahi*

Huyen and Takeshige allegedly colluded with individuals in Vietnam in late June to load 45 tons of rice into hai containers.

Investigators determined the couple bypassed mandatory inspection procedures by the Ministry of Agriculture at an agricultural quarantine station. They then falsely declared the contents as mung beans to customs while attempting to ship the rice to an Osaka port.

According to Osaka customs officials, imported Vietnamese rice incurs a tariff of 341 yen (2.26 USD) per kg, whereas mung beans are tax-exempt. On 25/6, Osaka customs officers inspected the containers, discovering 2,272 cartons labeled "mung beans" filled with rice.

Vietnamese-origin rice disguised in cartons labeled "mung beans" in Osaka, Japan, on 8/8. *Photo: Asahi*

It remains unclear whether Huyen and Takeshige admit or deny the charges. Osaka provincial police believe the couple intended to profit from recent increases in Japan's rice prices by importing cheaper rice and then selling it as higher-priced domestically grown rice.

Following the discovery of 45 tons of Vietnamese rice in Osaka in late June, provincial police and customs officials launched a joint investigation. This included searching the couple's home and other related locations in July.

Import-related documents indicate that Huyen's company had declared multiple shipments as "mung beans" more than 20 times since the beginning of the year.

By Duc Trung (According to Mainichi, NHK)