GINOWAN, Okinawa — A 39-year-old husband of a U.S. sailor assigned to a Marine unit was in Okinawa police custody Friday on suspicion of possessing and smuggling marijuana, according to a spokesman for Okinawa prefectural police in Ginowan.

Robert Van Pinkerton allegedly arranged for a friend in Kentucky to mail marijuana to his mailbox on Camp Foster, the spokesman said.

Japanese customs officials detected the illegal substance in a package when it arrived April 27 at Narita International Airport, he said. Undercover police officers questioned Van Pinkerton’s wife April 29, when she picked up the package at the post office on Camp Foster, according to the police report.

After she told police that the package belonged to her husband, police searched their off-base home in Chatan, where they found about 0.017 ounce of marijuana on a bookshelf, the spokesman said. Robert Van Pinkerton was arrested at the scene for possessing marijuana, the police said.

Police on Thursday added additional charges against Van Pinkerton for allegedly smuggling 1.022 ounces of marijuana and 1.128 ounces of cannabis resin, which were stuffed in a shampoo container in the package, the police said.

In an e-mail response Friday, Marine Corps officials declined to comment because the incident is under investigation.

Nigeria immigrant in custody over alleged attempted rapeDongducheon police said a man is in custody in connection with the alleged attempted rape of a U.S. Army officer’s wife last month.

An illegal immigrant from Nigeria was arrested hours after the alleged attack, and it is not yet known whether he will be tried prior to being deported, a Korean police official said.

According to reports, late last month the woman was dragged off a Bosandong street to the man’s apartment, where he tried to rape her. She succeeded in escaping out the front door before the act took place, police said.

The woman was not injured in the incident.

Police arrested the man hours later after interviewing neighbors and reviewing footage from a video camera in the area of the abduction. The suspect became violent when confronted about the attack, and one police officer was slightly injured while making the arrest.

Attempts to reach an Army official familiar with the incident were unsuccessful.

Time to get your passport renewed?CAMP COURTNEY, Okinawa — The American Red Cross and U.S. Consulate in Naha will host a “Be Travel Ready Day” to process passport applications and renewals Wednesday at Camp Courtney’s base theater, according to a news release.

Applications will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost for first-time applicants is $100 for adults and $85 for children under 16. Passport renewal fees are $75.

Applicants under age 16 must be accompanied by both parents. A consent form may be substituted if a parent can’t be present, the release said.

Applicants should bring all current and previous passports, an original birth certificate and a photo ID card. If applicable, they should also bring original divorce decrees, original marriage certificates and powers of attorney.

Applicants should also bring two passport-size photographs.

For more information, contact the Red Cross at DSN 645-3800 or visit the consulate’s Web page at naha.usconsulate.gov/.

Seether band to visit Sasebo Naval BaseThe post-grunge band Seether will perform a free concert on Sasebo Naval Base at 7 p.m. Thursday at Nimitz Field. The band, who had the 2004 hit song “Broken,” will sign autographs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Navy Exchange. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Showboat Theater. For more information, call DSN 252-3472.

Yokohama cemeteries to observe Memorial DayVeterans of Foreign Wars Yokohama Post 9467 is inviting all SOFA-sponsored personnel to attend two separate Memorial Day services Sunday for servicemembers who died in the Asia-Pacific region.

A bus will leave from the Negishi Housing Area community center at 9 a.m. for the Yokohama Foreigners Cemetery and the British Commonwealth War Cemetery. Both ceremonies are expected to last about 15 minutes, and a free buffet luncheon will follow at the community center.

Call DSN 242-4863 for more information.

Mandatory motorcycle course to be offeredThe next Military Sportsbike Riders Courses for servicemembers in the Kanto Plain will be held June 15 and June 27 at the North Dock Motorcycle Range in Yokohama.

The course is mandatory for military riders of sportsbikes to complete once every three years.

Call DSN 264-3910 for more information.

Memorial Day festivities set for families to participateChinhae Naval Base has announced its schedule for Memorial Day events on Monday: