Smuggling, forged passports, human trafficking, terrorism—international crime is becoming increasingly sophisticated and severe. Standing as the nation’s final line of defense against such threats are airport Immigration and Customs, which work to stop them at the border.
In recent years, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has surged, placing unprecedented strain on airport operations. To enable faster and more coordinated responses, a special unit reporting directly to the Cabinet Secretariat is established, eliminating traditional bureaucratic barriers. Its name is GATE24 (Global Airport Task Enforcement).
However, reality falls far short of the grand vision. With airport operations divided among numerous government agencies, GATE24 struggles to gain cooperation from other departments and is often treated as an unwanted burden by frontline staff. To make matters worse, the unit is assigned to a small inspection booth located far from the main gates, handling mostly charter and small aircraft flights. Its position is little more than that of a “reserve team” for airport inspections.
Despite these challenges, GATE24 begins its mission. As its members clash over laws, regulations, and human concerns while confronting complex cases at the border, they gradually overcome institutional barriers and grow into professionals standing on the front line of Japan’s borders.
(Source: Japanese = TV Asahi || Translation = MyDramaList)
