Two Americans arrested for smuggling $1M of cannabis into Tokyo

Two 25-year-old American women, Catron Jamere Bourbon Castillo and Jocelyn Dizon Natividad Patrin, were arrested at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport for allegedly smuggling approximately 30 kilograms of dried cannabis from New York.

The shipment, divided into 35 packages hidden within two suitcases, is estimated to have an illegal market value of roughly 150 million yen (approximately $1 million USD). Customs officials detected the drugs during a luggage inspection following the women's arrival on September 5.

During interrogations, Castillo reportedly admitted to the charges, stating she accepted the task for a financial reward and the opportunity to travel to Japan at no cost. Patrin has denied the allegations, claiming she was unaware the cannabis was inside the luggage.

Police suspect the women acted in coordination with an unidentified individual. Reports suggest the suspects may have received instructions from a person they met via social media but had never met in person.