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Tokyo police arrest two American women for alleged cannabis smuggling, reports say

CBS News reports that authorities intercepted approximately 30 kilograms of cannabis allegedly brought from New York for cash and travel.

Updated Sep 11, 2026 · 15:10 UTC1 reports

The short version

Tokyo police arrested two 25-year-old American women after discovering roughly 30 kilograms of suspected cannabis in their luggage at Haneda airport.[CBS News]
Media reports estimate the street value of the confiscated drugs at approximately 150 million yen, or nearly $1 million.[CBS News]
One woman stated she agreed to the scheme for money and a free vacation, whereas the second suspect denied knowing drugs were present.[CBS News]
Both women stated they received operational directions from an unidentified man contacted through social media whom they never encountered in person.[CBS News]

Tokyo police arrested two 25-year-old American women who flew into Haneda airport from New York with two suitcases containing suspected cannabis.[CBS News]
The confiscated dried cannabis weighed around 30 kilograms and was valued in media reports at roughly 150 million yen ($970,000).[CBS News]
One suspect admitted accepting the assignment for payment and the opportunity to visit Japan for free.[CBS News]
The other suspect contested the allegations, stating she was unaware cannabis was packed inside the luggage.[CBS News]
The suspects claimed their instructions came from a man met online via social media whom they had never met face-to-face.[CBS News]

The identity and whereabouts of the man who allegedly instructed the women via social media remain unverified.[CBS News]
The extent of the second suspect's knowledge regarding the suitcase contents remains disputed.[CBS News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.