The Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters (Mainichi/Tsuyoshi Fujita)

       OSAKA -- Four boys aged between 15 and 16 have been arrested for allegedly possessing marijuana for commercial purposes, Osaka Prefectural Police announce on Oct. 18.

       The four, including a 16-year-old prefectural high school student, stand accused of violating the Cannabis Control Act. They went to the same junior high school, and one of the suspects' rooms had apparently been a hub of marijuana trafficking. More than 10 people reportedly frequented the room, and police believe that cannabis spread from there.

       The suspects allegedly possessed 2.3 grams of marijuana at a housing complex in the prefecture on Sept. 1. All suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations.

       According to the prefectural police's juvenile division, they began to buy marijuana via social media for some 5,000 yen (about $44) per gram around June and sold it for about 6,500 yen (roughly $57). The boys are believed to have generated more than 100,000 yen (approximately $870) in sales. They have reportedly told police that they had bought marijuana using the proceeds from the sales.

       The prefectural police also took five boys and girls including at least one junior high school student into temporary custody for smoking cannabis in the suspect's room, and reported the case of three juveniles to a child consultation center.

       (Japanese original by Shuntaro Sawa, Osaka City News Department)

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