Tokyo turned over to prosecutors Thursday their case against three men accused of bringing into the country bullets used by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II after retrieving them from the South Pacific, investigators said.
The three military buffs, including a 41-year-old local government employee, allegedly went diving off the Truk Islands, part of the Federated States of Micronesia, to take instruments and bullets from sunken Zero fighters and warships at a depth of about 30 meters.
They told police they displayed the finds at their homes.
The three face charges of violating the explosives control law for allegedly bringing into Japan three fighter plane bullets containing gunpowder and five warship bullets by air parcel without permission in mid-February and possessing some 10 bullets at their homes.
Customs officers found the bullets, which were described as computer parts when imported, upon arrival at Narita airport.