Pubdate: Wed, 20 Jan 1999
Source: Kyodo News (Japan)

BRITON ARRESTED IN NAGOYA FOR SUSPECTED DRUG SMUGGLING

NAGOYA, Jan. 20 (Kyodo) -- A British man was arrested in Nagoya
earlier this month on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 2.9 kilograms
of marijuana resin  into Japan from Thailand, police said Wednesday.

Police said Andrew Smith, 43, was arrested at Nagoya airport after
customs inspectors found the drug, which had a street value of about
23 million yen,  concealed in a double-bottom suitcase.

Smith arrived in Nagoya Jan. 6 on a flight from Bangkok.

Police said customs inspectors detected the drug when they X-rayed the
suitcase, which they had found suspicious.

Smith was said to have told police he was asked by an Iranian
acquaintance in Bangkok to smuggle the resin to Japan.

On Dec. 17, police at Narita airport outside Tokyo arrested a
45-year-old Australian man with 2 kg of marijuana resin who also said
he was asked by an  Iranian acquaintance in Bangkok to smuggle the
resin to Japan.

A British man was arrested at Tokyo's Haneda airport last Sept. 13 for
allegedly trying to smuggle in 3.8 kg of marijuana resin concealed in
a double-layered briefcase. He also said he was asked by an Iranian
friend in Thailand  to smuggle the drug into Japan.

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