Cannabis plants have been found growing in the grounds of a Japanese parliamentary building in Tokyo, wrote BBC.

The country has a strict no-tolerance policy towards drugs and possession of even a small amount of cannabis carries a jail term of up to five years.

The four plants were removed after they were discovered by a visitor. It's not clear how they got there.

A parliamentary official said cannabis seeds could be carried by the wind or in bird droppings.

The building contains offices used by members of the upper house.