'Emily in Paris' star Jeremy O. Harris arrested in Japan on drug allegations amid ongoing investigation

Jeremy O. Harris has been detained in Japan for nearly three weeks following his arrest on drug smuggling allegations at Naha Airport in Okinawa.

The award-winning playwright and actor, known for his work in Emily in Paris, Slave Play, Euphoria and Zola, was stopped on November 16 and has been in custody for 18 days after customs officials allegedly discovered less than a gram of MDMA in his luggage.

Local reports state that the 36-year-old has been held under Japan’s strict narcotics laws since the arrest. On Thursday, prosecutors received a criminal complaint from Okinawa customs, indicating that the case is moving toward formal charges. Authorities have not disclosed whether Harris has responded to the claims, and it remains unclear if he has secured legal representation.

Japan enforces some of the toughest drug laws in the developed world, with prosecutions common even for small quantities. Previous high-profile cases include DJ David Morales in 2018 and Paul McCartney in 1980, both of whom faced strict legal consequences upon arrival in the country.

Harris had travelled to Okinawa from the UK, with a layover in Taiwan, reportedly for tourism. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Harris is regarded as one of contemporary theatre’s most distinctive voices.