Japanese prosecutors will decide whether to charge a Marine found smoking pot in the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni barracks, base officials and Iwakuni police confirmed Tuesday.
A private first class at the air station was arrested June 8 for smoking and possessing marijuana and is confined to base, the authorities said.
The case was passed Monday to the Yamaguchi prefecture prosecutor’s office, which will decide whether to press charges against the man, according to a report released by the Organized Criminal Control Division of the Iwakuni police department.
The 21-year-old servicemember was found with about 3.2 grams of marijuana and arrested by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, police said.
Japan has primary jurisdiction in the matter even though it occurred on a U.S. military base, according to Iwakuni police.
The U.S. also has the option of charging the man after the Japanese legal system has run its course.
Neither the Japanese police nor Iwakuni base officials would release the Marine’s name Tuesday.
"We are aware of the case and are fully cooperating with Japanese authorities," Master Gunnery Sgt. John Cordero said.
The base referred all further questions to Japanese authorities.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
