Msdf Member Accused Of Selling Marijuana On The Internet, Maritime Self-Defense Force member Options

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MSDF member accused of selling marijuana on the Internet
09/26/2005

The Asahi Shimbun


YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Prefecture--A Maritime Self-Defense Force member arrested in widening drug scandal sold marijuana to civilians over the Internet, police sources said over the weekend.

Kanagawa prefectural police have already identified several individuals who bought the drugs from Leading Seaman

Takahiro Sakaguchi, 22, who was arrested on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law, the sources said.

He is one of six MSDF members of submarine crews arrested on suspicion of possessing and trafficking illegal drugs, such as marijuana and MDMA, or Ecstasy, the sources said.

Some of the other suspects told police that Sakaguchi had been peddling pot over the Internet, the sources said.

Sakaguchi has basically admitted to the allegation, they added.

According to the sources, Sakaguchi, a crew member of the submarine Uzushio, offered the marijuana to an unspecified number of people through his cellphone or from Internet cafes from late last year until the spring this year.

He sent the cannabis to customers via parcel delivery services, they said.

Police searched Sakaguchi's home in Yokosuka and other places and confiscated what they believe are delivery slips for the marijuana, the sources said.

Police speculate that Sakaguchi made several tens of thousands of yen through his drug deals, they said.

The suspected source of Sakaguchi's supply was his 20-year-old brother who lives in Otofuke, Hokkaido, the sources said.

The brother was arrested Sept. 22 over suspected violations of the Cannabis Control Law. Police said the brother reaped naturally growing marijuana from fields in Hokkaido.

Prefectural police suspect Sakaguchi's brother had supplied the submariners with cannabis, and that these drugs had been later distributed to a number of civilians.

Eight people, including the six MSDF members, have been arrested since July on suspicion of growing, possessing and supplying cannabis. Five had been indicted as of the weekend.

Sakaguchi was indicted Sept. 21 on charges of selling 50 grams of cannabis to Leading Seaman Tatsuya Narita, 22, a crew member of the submarine Wakashio, for 8,000 yen.

Narita was also arrested on suspicion of violating the Cannabis Control Law.(IHT/Asahi: September 26,2005)


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