A 22-year-old Brazilian woman was arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle 22.3 kg of marijuana into Japan through Narita airport, police and customs officials said Wednesday.
Keila Kakoi, a resident of Kani, Gifu Prefecture, allegedly had the drugs hidden in a carry-on bag when she arrived at Narita airport July 20 from Brazil, the Japanese authorities said.
The drug haul, estimated to have a street value of about 89.2 million yen, is the largest found in a single piece of carry-on luggage at the airport since its opening in 1978, they said.
Kakoi, who left Japan for Brazil on July 9, was accompanied by a Brazilian man, according to investigations.
The authorities said Kakoi has denied intent to smuggle the drugs, saying she was asked by her male friend to carry the luggage without knowing what was inside.