Australian caught in Japan faces court: Online romance leads to airport arrest
A Perth woman faces trial in Japan after customs found drugs in her suitcase about 2 years ago. She claims to be victim of an online dating trick that led to her carrying hidden substances
In a Chiba courtroom today Donna Nelson from Perth stood before judges claiming her innocence in a drug-smuggling case that started about 2 years ago. The case shows how online-dating schemes can lead to serious legal trouble
The customs officers at Narita International Airport (which serves Tokyo) found something strange in her luggage: a double-bottom suitcase containing 2kg of phenylaminopropane (thats about 4‚4 pounds of stimulants) The discovery led to her immediate arrest and detention
During todays hearing‚ the Australian woman explained how she got caught in what she describes as an internet-based romance scam. She says unknown persons tricked her into carrying the modified suitcase; which contained hidden substances that she didnt know about
The hearing marks her first court appearance since the late-2022 arrest‚ highlighting how Japanese legal processes work at their own pace. The Perth-native faces serious charges under Japans strict anti-drug laws
