[/floatl]Mainichi: Customs lose hash stash planted in traveler's luggage to train sniffer dogs
Customs officials have lost 124 grams of hashish they planted in an unknowing traveler's luggage to train drug sniffing dogs, the head of Narita Customs said Monday. Customs officials are banned from using travelers' luggage for training practices, but one worker said it was common practice. "We want to improve the sniffer dogs' ability, so we have practiced this way several times in the past," the official said on condition of anonymity. Manpei Tanaka, head of Customs' Narita branch, apologized for the incident. "It's extremely regrettable that we have invited this sort of situation on ourselves. We will investigate the facts behind the case, provide thorough training and deal strictly with those involved," Tanaka said. Customs said the hash was stored in a metal container stuffed into the pocket of a soft, black suitcase belonging to one of 283 passengers traveling on Cathay Pacific Flight 520 from Hong Kong to Narita, which arrived at 3:31 p.m. on Sunday. The owner of the suitcase is unknown and passengers were not informed that their luggage would be used to train the drug-seeking dogs. Customs officials said four customs officials had two sniffer dogs working a luggage conveyor at Narita, but neither was able to find the drugs. Police are asking passengers on the flight about the missing drugs. Customs regulations require customs officials to prepare luggage for training exercises like the one carried out on Sunday and specifically ban travelers' baggage from being used.
