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.