By DPA,
Tokyo : Japanese police Friday arrested two members of Greenpeace Japan on suspicion of stealing whale meat from a transport firm’s distribution station in the northern city of Aomori.
Junichi Sato, 31, and Toru Suzuki, 41, of the environmental group were arrested on suspicion of theft and unlawful entry, according to the investigation.
The two members broke into the delivery company’s office April 16 and stole a box of whale meat to use as evidence against the whalers.
After stealing the meat, Greenpeace Japan claimed whaling ship Nisshin Maru had distributed prime whale meat to its crew members after returning from a so-called scientific research whale hunt.
In May, Greenpeace Japan filed a complaint with public prosecutors against 12 crew members of the Nisshin Maru and turned the box of whale meat, which they said was worth up to 350,000 yen ($3,242), over as evidence.