American playwright and actor Jeremy O Harris, best known for the Broadway hit Slave Play, has been taken into custody in Japan on suspicion of attempting to bring illegal drugs into the country.
The 36-year-old was stopped at Naha Airport in Okinawa on 16 November after customs agents allegedly found 0.78 grams of a crystal substance containing MDMA in his tote bag. The Okinawa Regional Customs office said the discovery led to his arrest under Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act, with a criminal complaint submitted to local prosecutors.
Police in Tomigusuku city confirmed Harris remains in custody, but declined to say whether he has acknowledged the accusations. His representatives have not commented, and it is unknown if he has secured legal representation in Japan. Authorities said he had flown to Okinawa for sightseeing, arriving from the UK with a layover in Taiwan.
Japan enforces some of the strictest drug laws among developed nations, with even small amounts of banned substances leading to prosecution. While penalties are severe, they are less extreme than in countries like China or Singapore. Recent high-profile cases include former Australian rugby player Blake Ferguson in 2021 and Grammy-winning DJ David Morales in 2018, who was also caught with MDMA.
Harris is an acclaimed playwright whose work includes Slave Play, the most Tony-nominated play in Broadway history. He also co-wrote the film Zola and contributed to television series such as Euphoria and Irma Vep.
