2 JAPANESE MEN ARRESTED WITH LARGE MARIJUANA STASH

BAGUIO (Agence France-Presse) -- Two Japanese nationals were arrested in
Mountain Province for possession of 1,360 kilograms (2,992 pounds) of
marijuana, an amount that could make them face the death penalty, police
said Saturday.

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

The Philippine laws 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 this week 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.