🔗 Share this article Playwright Jeremy O Harris Detained in the island nation for Suspected Drug Smuggling U.S. actor and playwright Jeremy O Harris, best known for the award-contending production Slave Play, was detained in November at an international terminal in Japan on suspicion of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, authorities announced. Particulars Surrounding the Airport Apprehension Harris, 36, was stopped on 16 November at Naha airport, situated in Okinawa, after a border inspection agent found 0.78 grams of a crystalline substance containing the designer drug MDMA in his tote bag, as stated by a official statement. He was immediately arrested on suspicion of violating Japan’s stringent Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Regional customs officials lodged a formal complaint with the prosecutor’s office to initiate formal charging proceedings against the individual. Current Status and Judicial Counsel A police official 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 not known whether the figure has retained legal representation in Japan. Requests for comment to his management team were not answered at once. Travel Itinerary and Location Reports indicate Harris had arrived in Okinawa for sightseeing purposes, journeying from Britain via a connecting flight in Taiwan. Okinawa is a popular resort destination to the southwest of Tokyo, known for its beaches and U.S. bases. Context: Japan's Rigorous Narcotics Policies Japan enforces some of the toughest drug laws among industrialized countries. Possession and smuggling even minute quantities of illegal substances typically results in criminal prosecution. Punishments are severe, though less draconian as in some other Asian nations in which drug offences can result in the death penalty. The country has a established zero-tolerance policy regarding drug-related crimes. Notable Past Cases Foreign nationals detained by Japan for suspected 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 detained after landing in Tokyo with marijuana and was afterwards banned from entering the country for a period of time. Career Highlights Beyond his theatrical work, Jeremy O Harris is also known for his performance in the series Emily in Paris and for producing the HBO drama Euphoria.