Pubdate: 26 Feb 1999
Source: Kyodo News (Japan)

SHIZUOKA MAN ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING MARIJUANA

NARITA, Japan, Feb. 26 (Kyodo) -- Narita airport customs agents and Chiba
prefectural police have arrested a Japanese man on suspicion of violating
narcotics control laws after discovering 800 grams of marijuana in his
possession, authorities said Friday.

Police arrested Yasuo Ikeda, a 49-year-old garden designer from the city of
Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, southwest of Tokyo, on suspicion of attempting to
smuggle the substance into Japan.

According to police investigations, Ikeda arrived at Narita airport from
Zurich, Switzerland, with the marijuana concealed in a handheld bag.

The marijuana was concealed in small plastic bags within a candy container
and in other places, police said.

Customs officials said they decided to check Ikeda after noticing that he
was carrying very little luggage.

The marijuana would have a value of about 4 million yen if divided into
small amounts and sold on the street, police estimate.

According to the police, Ikeda said he went to Switzerland to investigate
the possibilities of exporting bonsai and for sightseeing, and that he
bought the marijuana for personal consumption. 
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