U.S. thespian and writer Jeremy O Harris, renowned for the award-contending production Slave Play, was taken into custody last month at an airport in Japan on allegations involving attempting to smuggle controlled substances into the country, authorities stated.
The 36-year-old was stopped on 16 November at Naha airport, situated in Okinawa, after a border inspection agent discovered 0.78 grams of a crystalline substance laced with the synthetic narcotic MDMA in his personal bag, as stated by a official statement.
He was immediately arrested on suspicion of breaching Japan’s strict Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.
Regional customs officials filed a criminal accusation with the public prosecutor to initiate formal charging proceedings against the individual.
A law enforcement representative in Tomigusuku, Okinawa, confirmed that Harris remains in custody. The official declined to comment on whether Harris has admitted to the charges.
Presently, it is unclear whether the artist has secured a defense attorney in Japan. Inquiries to his management team were not answered at once.
Reports indicate Harris had traveled to Okinawa for tourism, journeying from Britain via a connecting flight in Taiwan. Okinawa is a frequent tourist spot south-west of Tokyo, known for its coastlines and U.S. bases.
Japan enforces some of the most severe narcotics regulations among industrialized countries. Having or trafficking even minute quantities of banned drugs typically results in criminal prosecution.
Foreign nationals arrested in Japan for alleged drug offences in the past include former Australian rugby league player Blake Ferguson in 2021. In a historic 1980 case, former Beatle Paul McCartney was arrested after landing in Tokyo with marijuana and was afterwards banned from entering the country for a period of time.
Beyond his stage writing, Jeremy O Harris is also known for his performance in the series Emily in Paris and for producing the HBO drama Euphoria.
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