Tokyo: Toyota`s highest-ranking female executive was arrested at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday for allegedly importing a painkiller that is illegal under Japan`s strict drug laws, reports said Thursday.
The charges against American Julie Hamp came after customs agents last week found 57 tablets containing oxycodone in a parcel sent to her, according to reports by the Asahi newspaper and public broadcaster NHK.
Hamp, 55, said she did not believe she was committing a crime, the reports said.
Police and Toyota both declined to comment Thursday.
Hamp was promoted to head of communications for the auto giant after previously working at Toyota`s North American division.
Japanese drug laws ban some medications commonly available in other countries while jail time for possession of illegal narcotics such as cocaine or methamphetamine are not uncommon.
