Free trip to Japan lands two US women in trouble over alleged US$1m cannabis haul

Two American women, both 25 years old, were arrested in Tokyo on September 11 for allegedly smuggling US$1 million worth of cannabis, according to Tokyo police and media reports. The women arrived at Haneda airport from New York on Saturday with two suitcases containing "cannabis-like dried plants" that were concealed.

Japan enforces stringent drug laws, and the possession or smuggling of illegal narcotics can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment. The dried cannabis, weighing approximately 30 kilograms, is estimated to be worth around 150 million yen, or approximately US$970,000, according to media reports.

One of the suspects confessed to the police that she accepted the assignment for the financial gain and because "I was attracted by the fact I could go to Japan for free," as reported by Nippon TV. The other suspect, however, denies the allegation, stating she was unaware that cannabis was present in her suitcase, as cited by Tokyo Shimbun through unnamed police sources.

The Tokyo police spokesman revealed that the women conspired with an unidentified individual, and that their arrest was based on suspicions of violating the Drugs and Psychotropics Control Law and charges of smuggling for profit. Additionally, they were accused of breaching two other laws. Smuggling cannabis with the intention of generating profit can lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to three million yen (US$19,500).