TWO ARRESTED OVER HUGE POT STASH

BAGUIO, Philippines (AFP-Jiji) Two Japanese were arrested in the
northern Philippines for possession of 1,360 kg of marijuana, an
amount which could see them face the death penalty, police said Saturday.

Shunsuke Tamazaki, 32, and Yohei Saito, 21, were arrested after they
were allegedly found with marijuana bricks at a checkpoint in the
mountain town of Bontoc on Friday, Senior Superintendent Eugene Martin
said.

Drug laws in the Philippines provide for capital punishment for
possession of as little as 500 grams of marijuana.

Provincial director Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano said police
were investigating if the pair was planning to transport the marijuana
to Japan.

The Japanese Embassy told the Philippine police that Japanese customs
experts were planning to come to the country to discuss the smuggling
of illegal drugs from the northern mountain regions to Japan.