Popular American playwright arrested in Japan for allegedly smuggling medicine | EUROtoday

A distinguished American playwright and actor, Jeremy O. Harris, recognized for his Tony-nominated “Slave Play,” has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of smuggling the psychedelic drug ecstasy, officers confirmed on Saturday.

Harris was apprehended at Naha Airport on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa on November 16 for an alleged violation of customs regulation.

Okinawa Regional Customs spokesperson Tatsunori Fukuda said that officers found 0.78 grams of the crystalised drug, also called MDMA, inside a container in a tote bag he was carrying.

The 36-year-old had departed London’s Heathrow Airport two days previous to his arrest, transiting by means of Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport earlier than arriving in Naha for a sightseeing journey. Okinawa is a well-liked resort vacation spot.

Fukuda confirmed that Harris was arrested on the spot and brought into custody by the Tomishiro police.

A prison criticism has since been filed with the Naha District Prosecutors’ Office for additional investigation and potential indictment.

Authorities didn’t discover some other illicit substances in his baggage and imagine the MDMA was meant for private use.

While the investigation is ongoing, Fukuda declined to reveal whether or not Harris has made any assertion relating to the case. Police have additionally shunned confirming particulars. In Japan, people convicted of drug smuggling face the prospect of multi-year jail sentences.

Harris rose to prominence with “Slave Play,” which premiered off-Broadway in 2018 whereas he was a graduate pupil on the Yale School of Drama.

The manufacturing, recognized for its provocative exploration of race, class, and sexual taboos, later moved to Broadway, incomes a Tony nomination for finest play. Beyond his theatrical work, he has held small appearing roles, made a cameo look as himself in a ‘Gossip Girl’ reboot, and served as a co-producer on a number of episodes of HBO’s hit collection ‘Euphoria’.