American playwright and actor Jeremy O Harris, best known for the Tony-nominated play Slave Play, has been arrested in Japan on suspicion of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the country. Local authorities confirmed the arrest on Thursday, nearly a month after he was detained at an airport on Okinawa island.
Harris, 36, was stopped on 16 November at Naha airport after a customs officer discovered 0.78 grams of crystal containing MDMA in his tote bag, according to an Okinawa regional customs spokesperson. He was immediately arrested on suspicion of violating Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Customs officials filed a criminal accusation with the regional prosecutor’s office on Thursday to begin formal charging proceedings.
An official at a police station in Tomigusuku, a city in southern Okinawa, confirmed that Harris remains in custody. The official declined to comment on whether Harris has admitted to the allegations. Harris’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment, and it is unclear whether he has retained legal representation in Japan.
Harris had arrived in Okinawa for sightseeing, travelling from Britain via Taiwan, where he had a flight layover, the customs spokesperson said. Okinawa, a popular resort destination about 1,500km south-west of Tokyo, is known for its beaches and US military bases.
Japan maintains strict drug laws with severe penalties for possession and smuggling. Even small amounts of illegal substances can result in criminal prosecution, though punishments are not as harsh as in some other Asian countries. Foreigners arrested in recent years for drug offences include former Australian rugby league player Blake Ferguson in 2021, and in 1980, former Beatle Paul McCartney was arrested for marijuana possession and banned from entering Japan for years.
In addition to his work as a playwright, Harris is known for his acting role in Emily in Paris and for producing the HBO drama series Euphoria.
