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a major American Playwright and actor, Jeremy O. Harris, best known for his Tony-nominated “Slave Play,” has been arrested. Japan on suspicion of trafficking a psychedelic drug called ecstasy, authorities said Saturday.
Harris was arrested at Naha Airport on Japan’s southern island Okinawa On November 16, officers found 0.78 grams of the crystallized drug, also known by this name, for alleged violations of customs law. mdmaIt was being transported in a tote bag container, according to Okinawa Regional Customs spokesman Tatsunori Fukuda.
Harris, 36, had departed London’s Heathrow Airport two days earlier and flown into Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport before arriving in Naha for sightseeing, Fukuda said. Okinawa is a popular resort destination with mild weather throughout the year.
Fukuda said Harris was arrested at the scene and taken into custody by Tomishiro police, who filed a criminal complaint with the Naha District Prosecutors Office on Thursday for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Authorities did not find any other drugs in his luggage and believe the MDMA was for his personal use. They are still investigating, Fukuda said, adding that it could not be released whether Harris had any comment on the case.
Police Declined to confirm details.
People convicted of drug trafficking in Japan can face several years in prison.
When Harris was a graduate student at Yale School of Drama, he broke into the art world with “Slave Play.” It premiered off-Broadway in 2018, sparking controversy and even a petition to shut down the production due to its provocative mix of race, class, and sexual taboos. It transferred to Broadway the following year and earned a Tony nomination for Best Play but did not win any awards.
In addition to small acting roles, he has played himself in the rebooted “Gossip Girl” and served as co-producer on several episodes of HBO’s hit series “Euphoria.”
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Associated Press writer Mallika Sen in New York contributed to this report.