The head of Toyota Motor Corp.'s public relations, who also happens to be the company's highest-ranking female executive, was arrested at a hotel in Tokyo Thursday for allegedly importing illegal painkillers, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Julie Hamp, 55, an American who had moved from California to Japan, was taken by the police from her hotel in Tokyo for suspicion of importing oxycodone. At least 60 tablets were discovered by officials at the customs in a package she sent to herself from the United States.
Oxycodone, while considered a prescription drug in the United States, is illegal in Japan and only specific people are allowed to transport it into the country, according to Reuters.
If convicted, Hamp could face up to 10 years in prison in Japan, according to the Daily Mail.
The police said that Hamp has denied the allegations and believes she has not imported anything illegal.
Her company is backing her up.
"Toyota has been made aware of Ms. Hamp's arrest but has no further facts in light of the ongoing investigation by the authorities," said Shino Yamada, the spokesperson for Toyota in a statement, according to Reuters. "We will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation. We are confident, however, that once the investigation is complete, it will be revealed that there was no intention on Ms. Hamp's part to violate any law."
Hamp had been working in Toyota North America until her promotion as communications head in March. She moved to Tokyo in April. A native of Queens, New York, she became the first female managing officer of the company, joining the car maker in 2012, after stints with General Motors Corp. and PepsiCo Inc.
