Tokyo police arrested two American women for allegedly smuggling about 30 kg of cannabis worth around ¥150 million into the country through Haneda Airport.[1][2]
The two 25-year-olds, identified as Cartron Jamere Bourbon Castillo and Jocelyn Dizon Natividad Patrin, arrived from New York on 5 September with two suitcases containing what police described as cannabis-like dried plants; customs officers found the drugs on inspection.[1][2] A Tokyo police spokesperson said the women allegedly worked with an unidentified third party.[1]
Both suspects accepted the job after being promised covered flights and lodging plus a monetary payout; Bourbon told police she took it for the payment and the chance to travel to Japan for free, while the other suspect denies knowing the suitcase contained cannabis.[1] Police arrested both on suspicion of violating Japan’s drugs and psychotropics control law, including smuggling narcotics for profit, which can bring up to 10 years’ imprisonment.[1][2]