Jeremy O. Harris, the Tony-nominated playwright of Slave Play, has been released from Japanese custody after being held for three weeks on suspicion of drug smuggling. On November 16, authorities at Naha Airport in Okinawa detained the 36-year-old actor after finding 780 milligrams of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, in his carry-on bag when he arrived from Taiwan. Japanese police confirmed that he was released on December 8 without any formal charges. This means he can stay in the country to work on a writing and research project.
Japan has some of the strictest drug laws in the world. People who are caught with drugs or smuggling them can get up to seven years in prison. Harris’ case got a lot of attention because he is well-known in theater and film. He co-wrote A24’s Zola and appeared in Emily in Paris and Gossip Girl. Customs officials sent the case to the Naha prosecutors, but they didn’t file charges, which meant the case was resolved quickly.
Harris was on his way to the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia to promote Erupcja, a road movie that also starred Charli XCX and had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. His planned appearance at the festival was quietly called off while he was in jail, but representatives said he was still committed to working on creative projects in Japan. The incident shows how dangerous it can be for famous people to travel internationally under Japan’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.
