Japanese Actress Erika Sawajiri Nabbed for Alleged Drug Possession

November 18, 2019

Tokyo- Tokyo police on Saturday arrested Japanese actress Erika Sawajiri for allegedly possessing synthetic drug MDMA in violation of the drug control law.

Sawajiri, 33, has admitted to the charges, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. She allegedly had 0.09 gram of powder containing MDMA at her home in Meguro Ward in the Japanese capital around 8:45 a.m. (11:45 p.m. Friday GMT).

During their raid on the house shortly after 8 a.m., the police found two white capsules containing powder substance from her private room. After MDMA was detected from one of the capsules, the police arrested Sawajiri at the MPD headquarters in Chiyoda Ward around 1:30 p.m.

The capsules were in a bag, which had been put in a box with items including accessories. The box was on a shelf placed near the door of the room, with its lid open. She lives with her mother at the Tokyo home.

The police will look into if Sawajiri has used the drug by checking her urine. The MPD will also examine her mobile phone to investigate how she obtained the drug.

According to her official website, Sawajiri was born in 1986. She appeared in a number of television dramas and movies.

Sawajiri won a rookie award of the Japan Academy Film Prize for her performance in "Pacchigi," a movie released in 2005.

"We deeply apologize to fans and parties concerned," entertainment agency Avex Management, to which Sawajiri belongs, said. "We'll consider a strict action (against Sawajiri) while watching the course of the authorities' investigation," it added. Jiji Press