TOKYO: Japanese authorities have arrested prominent American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris on suspicion of drug smuggling, Japanese media reported on Friday.
Harris, best known for his Tony-nominated play Slave Play and his role in the hit series Emily in Paris, was detained at Naha Airport on November 16, according to the Okinawa Times.
Customs officials reportedly discovered 0.78 grams of a substance containing the stimulant MDMA hidden in the 36-year-old’s tote bag. It remains unclear whether Harris has been formally charged.
Japan enforces some of the strictest drug laws in the world, and possession of illegal narcotics can carry severe penalties, including imprisonment.
Harris had arrived in the southern Okinawa region on a flight from Taiwan, following a layover there after traveling from the United Kingdom, local broadcaster RBC reported. Authorities said he had come to Japan for tourism.
“Slave Play” earned a record-breaking 12 Tony nominations in 2018, but did not win any awards.
Harris also serves as a co-producer of HBO’s popular series “Euphoria.”
