Jeremy O. Harris Released From Custody in Japan After Drug Smuggling Allegations

Tony-nominated “Slave Play” writer Jeremy O. Harris has been released from police custody in Japan after being arrested on suspicion of smuggling drugs into the country and detained for three weeks.

According to The New York Times, Japanese authorities said that Harris had been released on Monday, but declined to say whether he had been officially charged. The news of Harris’ arrest and detainment came to light on Dec. 4, though he was taken into custody on Nov. 16 at Naha Airport in Okinawa after flying from Taiwan. Japanese customs officials alleged at the time of Harris’ arrest that they found 780 milligrams of MDMA in his carry-on bag.

A representative for Harris told The New York Times that he had not been charged with any offense and will continue to stay in Japan to research an upcoming project. Under Japan’s strict drug laws, if found guilty Harris would have been facing up to seven years in prison.

Beyond “Slave Play,” which earned a record number of Tony nominations in 2021, Harris is known as a writer on the HBO series “Euphoria” and for producing and co-writing the 2021 feature “Zola.” Harris has also acted on series including Netflix’s “Emily in Paris” and HBO’s “Gossip Girl” revival. Most recently, he co-wrote and produced the film “Erupcja” starring Charli xcx, which bowed at Toronto Film Festival to favorable reviews.

Japan maintains some of the developed world’s strictest drug enforcement policies, prosecuting even small-scale possession cases. Other figures in entertainment that have had run-ins with Japanese drug laws include DJ David Morales and Paul McCartney.