A Japanese university professor could face up to 10 years in jail after allegedly getting his students to produce ecstasy, officials said Wednesday, in an echo of TV hit series "Breaking Bad".
Authorities suspect the 61-year-old pharmacology professor from Matsuyama University in western Japan got his pupils to make MDMA -- commonly known as ecstasy -- in 2013 and another so-called "designer drug" 5F-QUPIC last year.
The professor told investigators he was aiming to further the "education" of his pharmaceutical sciences students, an official from the local health ministry told AFP.
The ecstasy allegedly produced has not been found and has "probably been discarded," added this official, who asked to remain anonymous.
If charged and convicted, he could face 10 years behind bars.
Japanese law states that a researcher needs a licence issued by regional authorities to manufacture narcotics for academic purposes.
The synthetic drug MDMA acts as a stimulant and hallucinogen and is the main ingredient in party drug ecstasy, giving users a heightened sense of energy, empathy and pleasure.
It has recently been used in research trials exploring its effectiveness in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
5F-QUPIC, also known as 5F-PB-22, is a cannabis-like drug banned in Japan in 2014 after it was suspected of causing traffic accidents.
It is unclear if there were any other similarities between the case of the Matsuyama University professor and that of Walter White, the fictitious hero of "Breaking Bad".
White, played by Bryan Cranston, was a former chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer who starts manufacturing crystal methamphetamine to pay for his treatment and provide for his family -- sometimes with the help of a former pupil.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
How El Chapo's Son Helped US Arrest Famous Narco Chief El Mayo Ismael "Mayo" Zambada: The Mexican Drug Lord Who Evaded Arrests For Decades Mexican Drug Lord 'El Mayo' And El Chapo's Son Arrested In US Student Dies, 2 Others Trapped In Delhi Coaching Centre's Flooded Basement At Olympics Opening Ceremony, Drag Parody Of 'The Last Supper' Draws Flak US Scientists Play God: New Element Created In A Lab Experiment DSSSB Exam Schedule 2024 Released For Recruitment To Various Posts AAP's Atishi Calls For Meeting After Delhiites Complain Of Blue Tap Water Woman Gym Trainer, 21, Killed Inside Delhi Flat Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.