The Guangzhou Municipal Court in Guangdong Province sentenced former Japanese politician Takuma Sakuragi to life in prison for drug trafficking.

Sakuragi, 76, who was a member of the legislative council of Aichi prefecture in Japan, brought nearly 3.3 kg of methamphetamine synthetic drugs in a suitcase when preparing to fly home in 2013, according to a court notice. Guangzhou city residents posted on social networks today.

Police arrested Sakuragi after discovering the drugs during a baggage inspection at Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou. Sakuragi's lawyer Chen Weixiong said he rejected the verdict and planned an appeal, saying there was insufficient evidence to convict Sakuragi.

Lawyer Chen said a Nigerian whom Sakuragi knew asked him to bring a suitcase containing many shoes to Japan. This acquaintance said that the suitcase belonged to a designer in Tokyo, but in fact, methamphetamine was hidden in the sole of the shoe.

According to the Guangzhou court, a Malian man was sentenced to death in the case but delayed for two years and a Guinean man received a life sentence for packing and transporting a suitcase.

In 2014, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence him to death, life imprisonment or imprisonment for at least 15 years for Sakuragi. The Court repeatedly delayed the decision due to the complexity of the case.