Manila to probe gun smuggling

Manila to probe gun smuggling

MANILA (AFP): The Philippine police are to cooperate with their Japanese counterparts in a probe into the smuggling of Filipino-made handguns into Japan, an official said yesterday.

The Firearms and Explosives Division chief, Senior Superintendent Marcelo Navarro, told reporters Japanese police have tagged the Philippines as the third largest source of guns for the yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicates, next to the United States and China.

Manila made several arrests of suspected gun smugglers in the central city of Cebu last year. Illegal gunsmiths proliferate in Danao city, near Cebu.

"Most of these guns are smuggled by ships passing along the Philippines and are being picked up by boats upon entry to Japan's territory," he added. Navarro's division said about 600,000 Filipinos are licensed to own firearms.