TOKYO — American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris was released from custody in Japan three weeks after he was taken into custody on suspicion of smuggling the psychedelic drug ecstasy.
Harris, 36, known for his Tony nomination Slave gamePolice declined to say whether Harris, who also starred in “Emily in Paris,” was released on bail or had left the country.
Officers at Naha Airport on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa arrested Harris on November 16 on suspicion of violating customs laws for possessing 0.78 grams (0.0275 ounces) of a crystallized drug, also known as MDMAin a container in the large bag he was carrying.
Harris had flown out of London's Heathrow Airport two days earlier and transited to Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport before arriving in Naha for sightseeing, customs officials said.
Harris was arrested at the scene and taken into custody by Tomishiro police, who referred the case to prosecutors for further investigation and possible charges.
The Naha District Prosecutor's Office refused to confirm whether his case was dropped or whether the investigation was still ongoing.
AP requests for comment from Harris' U.S. representatives were not returned Tuesday.
Japanese criminal procedures allow investigators to hold a suspect for up to 23 days before filing charges.
Harris debuted with “Slave,” which he wrote while a graduate student at the Yale School of Drama. The play caused controversy for its provocative mix of race, class and sexual taboos when it premiered off-Broadway in 2018. The following year, it was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, but did not win the award.
He also made a cameo appearance in the rebooted Gossip Girl and co-produced several episodes of the hit HBO series Euphoria.
___
AP writer Hillel Italia in New York contributed to this report.
