A prominent American playwright and actor has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of smuggling the illegal drug ecstasy into the country, officials have announced.
Jeremy O. Harris, 36, known for his Tony-nominated play “Slave Play,” was arrested at Naha Airport on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa on November 16.
According to Okinawa Regional Customs spokesperson Tatsunori Fukuda, Harris was arrested for allegedly violating customs law by having 0.78 grams of the crystallized drug, also known as MDMA, in a container inside a tote bag he was carrying.
Harris had left London’s Heathrow Airport two days earlier and passed through Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport before arriving in Naha for sightseeing, Fukuda said.
Okinawa is a popular resort destination in Japan known for its mild weather throughout the year.
Fukuda said Harris was arrested immediately at the airport and taken into custody by Tomishiro police. The police filed a criminal complaint to the Naha District Prosecutors’ Office on Thursday for further investigation and possible charges.
Japanese authorities did not find any other drugs in his luggage and believe the MDMA was for his personal use, according to Fukuda.
Officials are still investigating the case, but information about whether Harris made any comment could not be released.
There has been no immediate comment from Harris’ representatives.
Japanese criminal procedures allow investigators to keep a suspect in custody for up to 23 days before bringing charges. Pre-trial detention can be extended if the accused exercises their right of silence or denies the charges, a practice widely criticized as “hostage justice.”
Those convicted of drug smuggling in Japan can face a prison sentence of several years.
Harris became famous in the arts world with “Slave Play,” which he wrote while he was still a graduate student at the Yale School of Drama.
The play premiered off-Broadway in 2018 and caused controversy with its provocative mix of race, class and sexual taboos. Some people even started a petition to shut down the production.
The play moved to Broadway the following year and received a Tony nomination for best play, though it did not win an award.
Besides his work as a playwright, Harris has had small acting roles and appeared as himself on the rebooted “Gossip Girl” television series. He also served as a co-producer on several episodes of HBO’s hit series “Euphoria.”
The arrest has shocked the American theatre community, where Harris is considered one of the most talented young playwrights of his generation.
Japan has very strict drug laws, and even small amounts of illegal substances can lead to arrest and prosecution. The country takes drug offences very seriously, regardless of whether the person is a foreign visitor or a Japanese citizen.
Foreign nationals convicted of drug offences in Japan often face deportation after serving their sentences.
