GINOWAN, Okinawa — Okinawa police, with the cooperation of U.S. military police, are investigating marijuana use by American teens.
An Okinawa police spokesman said the investigation began when a 20-year-old base employee was stopped at Camp Foster’s Kitamae Gate at 10 p.m. March 28 and a routine search of his car turned up a small amount of marijuana.
The American, who has not yet been charged formally, was taken into Okinawa police custody the next day and gave investigators information that involved 15 people, all younger than 20 and considered juveniles under Japanese law, the police spokesman said.
The suspect told investigators he obtained the drug from an 18-year-old American high school student, police said, adding that through a search of the student’s off-base home, police discovered videotapes of American and Japanese teens smoking marijuana in public parks.
The Department of Defense Dependents Schools student was taken into Okinawa police custody on April 13, according to the police report. He told investigators he brought an ounce of marijuana from the United States to Okinawa on a commercial airplane.
Police found no marijuana during the search of his home, but the student said he gave all he had left to a 17-year-old friend, who also was taken into custody, the police spokesman said.
An Okinawa prosecutor Tuesday said a charge of possession of marijuana against the 17-year- old, who holds dual U.S.-Japanese citizenship, was sent to Naha District Family Court, where he will be tried as a juvenile. Charges against the other suspects were dropped in the Japanese system.
However, a Marine spokesman confirmed that the investigation by military police against the others remains ongoing.
The 17-year-old led police to a grave site in Wakamatsu Park in Kitanakagusuku, where they found about 3 milligrams of marijuana. Thirteen other teens were identified in the videotapes of parties held in early April at Wakamatsu Park and at Araha Beach in Chatan, the police spokesman said.
Details of the military police investigation remain sketchy.
“During a narcotics investigation, 16 young adults [ranging in age from 16-20] were interviewed by the cooperative efforts of NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Division) and Japanese law enforcement personnel,” Marine 1st Lt. Eric Tausch, a public affairs officer, stated Tuesday. He said those interviewed were teens in Japan under the status of forces agreement and Okinawans employed on U.S. bases.
