Society

Australian woman arrested at Japanese airport a victim of love scam, family says

TOKYO, Jan 25 (SMH) - The family of a prominent Indigenous community leader detained in Japan claims she was groomed by a Nigerian love scammer for two years before she was arrested for suspected drug trafficking.

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Japanese authorities intercepted Ballardong Njaki-Njaki woman Donna Nelson at Narita airport near Tokyo this month when she was allegedly found with two kilograms of drugs stashed inside a bag.

The family believes Nelson, a 2022 Western Australian Greens candidate and Aboriginal health advocate, was either forced or tricked into carrying the bag, which she had not packed in her luggage before leaving Australia.

The 56-year-old has been detained without charge in Tokyo since January 4, when she abruptly stopped answering messages from family and friends shortly after landing in the Japanese capital.

Police and consular officials confirmed Nelson had been detained by Japanese authorities on suspicion of drug trafficking three days later. The family has been able to contact her only through her court-appointed lawyer. ...continue reading

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