Toyota's 1st Female Managing Officer Arrested over Drug Import

Tokyo, June 18 (Jiji Press)--Toyota Motor Corp. <7203> Managing Officer and Chief Communications Officer Julie Hamp was arrested at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday for allegedly importing an illegal drug in violation of the narcotics control law. The 55-year-old American is suspected of importing 57 tablets containing oxycodone, a narcotic substance, in a parcel from the United States that was found earlier this month at Narita International Airport east of Tokyo. Hamp has denied the allegation, insisting that she does not think she imported a narcotic drug, police sources said. Oxycodone is designated as a narcotic, but it can be used as a painkiller with a doctor's prescription, according to Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department. It has stronger effects than morphine. Hamp assumed the current position at Toyota in April, becoming the first female executive at the Japanese automaker in the post of managing director or any higher posts. She joined the Toyota group in 2012 after working for General Motors Co. and beverage giant PepsiCo Inc. Toyota said it will cooperate fully with the investigation and that it is confident that the probe will reveal that Hamp had no intention to violate any law. END