SEPANG, Malaysia (Kyodo) A Japanese woman who could face the death sentence for trafficking drugs into Malaysia claims she was duped by a Middle Eastern man into bringing what she thought were "books" into the country, an investigator said Wednesday.
Mariko Takeuchi, a 35-year-old former nurse, was arrested last Friday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport upon arrival from Dubai.
While scanning through three pieces of her luggage, customs officers found 4.7 kg of methamphetamine hidden under the lining of her bag.
According to the investigating officer, who requested anonymity, Takeuchi claimed during interrogation that a man had passed her the bag.
She said she was told it contained books and a cell phone and that "someone would contact her on that hand-phone and collect the bag from her," the officer said.
Takeuchi's current passport lists her registered domicile as Aomori, although she told investigators she is from Tokyo.
It shows she flew out of Tokyo's Narita airport to KLIA five times between September and October, all via Dubai, although she told investigators she had visited Malaysia at least 10 times in total.