Emily in Paris star released from custody in Japan after drug smuggling allegations

Jeremy O. Harris has been released from custody in Japan after being held on drug smuggling allegations.

The 36-year-old star, known for his work as a playwright on Slave Play and as an actor in shows like Emily In Paris, was taken into custody last month after being stopped at Naha Airport.

In a statement released earlier this month, an Okinawa Regional Customs spokesperson said that a customs officer had allegedly found 0.78 grams of crystal, which contained synthetic narcotic MDMA, in the playwright’s tote bag.

The American screenwriter was taken into custody on suspicion of violating the country’s Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.

According to The New York Times, Japanese authorities said on Tuesday that he was released after spending three weeks in detention.

Harris was released without charge and will stay in Japan while he writes and researches for an upcoming project, a representative told the publication.

According to Reuters, Harris was arrested on November 16 on ‘suspicion of attempting to smuggle illegal drugs’ after arriving for a sightseeing trip.

A criminal accusation was filed with the regional prosecutor’s office on December 4.

On the Japan Customs website, drug smuggling is described as a ‘serious crime’ for which ‘violators will be severely punished, regardless of who will use the drug as well as its amount’.

Foreign travel advice on Gov.uk reads: ‘There is zero tolerance of drug crime and the penalties are severe.

‘British nationals have been arrested and detained for receiving small quantities through the post or if they test positive when the police raid clubs or bars.

‘British nationals convicted of drug trafficking have received sentences ranging from 6 to 17 years and fines of 3 to 4 million yen [between £14,496 and £19,328].

‘Prisoners in Japan are assigned labour or factory work as part of their sentences.’

Harris is known to Netflix fans for his role as Grégory Elliot Duprée in Emily In Paris, while he also appeared as himself in two episodes of the 2021 Gossip Girl reboot.

In 2018 and 2019, he appeared in episodes of High Maintenance and What We Do In The Shadows, while he later served as a co-producer on four episodes of Euphoria.

He made waves in the theatre world with his production Slave Play, which he wrote at Yale University and took to Broadway in 2019.

The show proved to be a critical hit, earning a record breaking 12 Tony Award nominations, which was the most ever at the time for a non-musical play.

Metro has contacted a representative for Jeremy O. Harris for comment.

An earlier version of this article was published on December 5.

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