Japanese carrying 2 bullets in bag arrested at NAIA

MANILA, Philippines — A Japanese tourist’s homecoming was delayed on Sunday after he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when two bullets were detected in his baggage.

Kazunobu Sakamoto, 33, was charged with illegal possession of ammunition at the Pasay City prosecutor’s office when two 9mm bullets were found hidden inside the breast pocket of a long-sleeved shirt in his luggage.

According to a report from the Aviation Security Group (Avsegroup), Sakamoto was supposed to be on a Philippine Airlines flight to Haneda, Japan, but was stopped at around 5 p.m., Sunday, right at the departure area initial security screening checkpoint of the NAIA terminal 2.

Avsegroup National Capital Region head, Senior Supt. Ricardo Layug Jr. said that when the Japanese national’s baggage went through the x-ray scanner, a security screening officer of the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) noticed something resembling a bullet inside.

Layug said that the screening officer immediately informed the baggage inspector who told the foreigner that his luggage needed to be subjected to manual inspection.

The Avsegroup-NCR chief pointed out that the Japanese tourist opened his bag for the OTS personnel’s manual inspection, which yielded the two bullets “inside the right side pocket of a white long-sleeved shirt.”

Sakamoto was arrested after he failed to show documents authorizing him to carry ammunition.

Layug said that the foreigner was charged on Monday with violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.  SFM