Tochigi Prefectural Police re-arrested Pham Dinh Ngoc, a 33-year-old unemployed Vietnamese resident of Ashikaga, on 25 September 2026 on suspicion of cultivating marijuana for profit.[1] Investigators said he grew 207 cannabis plants at his home in Yamakawacho.[1]

Officers first searched the house in July 2026 during another investigation and seized about 2,900 grams of dried marijuana, which police valued at roughly 14.5 million yen.[1] Ngoc had already been arrested for possession with intent to profit and was later held again for overstaying his visa.[1]

Ngoc admitted tending the plants but told investigators he did not know they were marijuana and denied seeking profit.[1][2] Police maintained he was running a large cultivation setup for illicit sale and continued to investigate.[1] JP-NewsFocus noted television reports that Gunma Prefectural Police carried out the July search in Ashikaga during a separate case.[2]