American DJ David Morales was released from Japanese custody without charge Friday, his representative said, following the Grammy Award winner's arrest earlier this month on suspicion of drug smuggling.
Morales, 56, was detained at Fukuoka airport after a customs officer found him in possession of a tiny portion of the drug MDMA, better known as ecstasy. "We're delighted to confirm that David Morales has been released without charge," a representative for the DJ in London said in a statement sent to AFP.
"David is well and has asked that we pass on his love and gratitude to all those who have shown their support," the said, without giving details on why he was released or how many days he had been detained. Local police declined to confirm the release.
Authorities allegedly found five granules of MDMA -- weighing 0.3 grammes -- in Morales' carry-on suitcase but he denied the allegations, according to local media. He was scheduled to perform at events in Fukuoka and Tokyo.
Morales was an influential figure in the New York dance scene during the 1980s and 1990s. He has remixed and produced releases for artists including Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, according to his website.
Morales was nominated for his first Grammy in 1995 as a producer for Mariah Carey's album "Daydream". Three years later, he won the Grammy for "Remixer of the Year." Japan has strict anti-drug laws where even possession of minute quantities can lead to jail sentences. Possession of ecstasy for personal use, however small the quantity, carries a maximum jail sentence of seven years and a three million yen (USD 26,000) fine.
In arguably Japan's most infamous music drug bust, Paul McCartney spent nine days in a Tokyo jail in 1980 after being caught at the airport with a bag of marijuana in his suitcase.
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