Japan taxi driver accused of drugging, raping 50 women over 15 years

Japanese police have arrested a former taxi driver accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a female passenger, authorities said Thursday, amid media reports suggesting he may have targeted dozens more women over the past 15 years.

The 54-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Wednesday in Tokyo on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse and violating laws related to illicit filming. Police allege he drugged a woman in her 20s with sleeping pills last year, took her to his home, and filmed the assault.

According to local reports, the man had stored around 3,000 explicit videos and images, with up to 50 possible victims captured in assaults committed either in his taxi or at his residence.

“Forensic analysis found traces of sleeping pills in the victim’s hair,” a police spokesperson told media, declining to give further details due to the sensitivity of the case.

Authorities are now reviewing the vast amount of video evidence, some dating back as far as 2008, to identify additional victims.

The local media reported that the suspect had previously been arrested last October for allegedly drugging another woman and stealing 40,000 yen (approx. $280). He was released, then re-arrested in December for a separate indecent assault.

Police believe there may be dozens more victims, and are urging anyone who may have been targeted to come forward.