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Tokyo Court Upholds Sentence for Meth Smuggler Nelson

9/26/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Tokyo High Court upheld Donna Nelson's six-year sentence for smuggling methamphetamine at Narita Airport, January 2023.
Nelson claimed romance scam by a man named "Kelly"; the court rejected this defense.
She was sentenced in December 2023 and fined one million yen (about $10,400).
She remains in a Japanese prison; her family pursues Australia custody, but the path is uncertain.

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Story summary

Tokyo High Court upheld Donna Nelson's six-year sentence for smuggling methamphetamine at Narita Airport, January 2023.
Nelson claimed romance scam by a man named "Kelly"; the court rejected this defense.
She was sentenced in December 2023 and fined one million yen (about $10,400).
She remains in a Japanese prison; her family pursues Australia custody, but the path is uncertain.