My autistic brother is stranded in Tokyo jail hell after drugs gang ‘sneaked meth into his luggage' on dream holiday
HOLS NIGHTMARE My autistic brother is stranded in Tokyo jail hell after drugs gang 'sneaked meth into his luggage' on dream holiday
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE sister of an autistic teenager who is being detained in Japan on drug smuggling charges believes her brother was manipulated by gangs before he left the UK.
Sean Stephenson, 18, from Charlton, London, was arrested at Tokyo airport last month with a suitcase containing more than 10kg of methamphetamine.
3
Sean Stephens, 18, is being held in Japan
Credit: Ami Lee
3
The teenager has autism and had never been abroad alone before
Credit: Ami Lee
3
His sister says he was adamant he wanted to go on the trip
Credit: Ami Lee
Ami Lee and her family believes Sean has been pressured and exploited by heartless underworld figures.
He has multiple physical and mental health challenges and was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged five.
Though legally an adult, Sean has a much younger mental age and is eager to make new friends - something his family say was taken advantage of.
They claim he was groomed on UK soil before he was pressured into travelling, first to Portugal and then on to Toronto for five days.
Sean then travelled to Tokyo and he was arrested on June 21 after he was found with a locked suitcase containing the methamphetamine.
Ami last saw her younger brother on June 14 at her daughter's birthday party.
Since then, she has been fighting to find out what's happening to her brother nearly 6,000 miles away and has started a crowdfunding appeal for £14,000 to pay for his legal fees.
"My mind is a total blur- I haven't slept now for coming up two weeks," she said.
"My life is really hectic, I'm looking after three children and I've now got to worry about my brother - I'm on the phone to Tokyo throughout the night.
"He's on no communication so I can't get any contact anymore - I'm beyond worried now."
New CCTV of Brit 'mule' Bella May Culley 'smuggling £200k of cannabis' released as cops slam her claims she was coerced
Having never travelled abroad before, let alone by himself, Sean's disappearance stunned the entire family.
"He kept saying he's going to go to Canada but we didn't really think much of it," Lee said.
"I think until you've got a child that's autistic, you don't actually understand where I'm coming from with that."
Sean then suddenly vanished overseas on Father's Day morning.
Lee said: "He had never travelled alone before, and it was clear from our contact with him that he was frightened and confused.
"We pleaded with him to come home."
Soon after, his family received news that he had been detained in Japan and is now facing "consequences he can barely comprehend".
Everything his family know about his movements is through the information provided by a solicitor in Japan, but his family cannot speak to him directly.
Lee says that Sean was picked up outside a Nisa shop one morning by a man who had befriended him and escorted him to Heathrow Airport.
Sean's phone and bank cards were taken and he was given a Nokia so he couldn't contact his family and arrangements were made for Sean to meet another man in Toronto.
According to the solicitor, Sean received threats to "break his legs and hurt his family" if he didn't go to Canada.
From Toronto he was handed the suitcase of drugs to take to Tokyo where he was told it was money to be dropped to a "friend", she claims.
Lee then received a message from the solicitor on July 15 who said that according to the case record, the amount of methamphetamine he was carrying wasn't one or two kilos - but more than 10kg.
She added that Sean has now been moved to a juvenile centre and could be potentially looking at over 10 years in prison.
Lee said: "He's extremely vulnerable - his mental age is 12 to 13 years old.
"He comes to my house, he plays with my children like children play.
"He's very funny, he's very unique, he's so helpful and kind - he's my Mum's carer.
"His nan passed away in February and was on palliative care - he did not leave her bedside and used to go and get her medication everyday from the chemist.
"It's not an excuse because he's autistic and we understand he's going to be punished - but he actually doesn't understand what's going on.
"How do I know if my brother's even going to come home?"
Lee also said Sean has a history of self-harm, suicide attempts, and other medical conditions.
'Police have been disgusting'
Sean's family don't know who got him involved in alleged drug smuggling and his sister was hesitant to speculate over fear of repercussions given the amount of drugs involved.
But they say they reported allegations of grooming and exploitation at Plumstead Police Station on Tuesday, July 1.
Lee claims that officers told her it was a matter for the NCA who then redirected her back to the police.
She said: "The police have been disgusting.
"I get that my brother has been detained abroad but a crime was taking place very close to his home.
"He was picked up from the Nisa between 8am and 9am that morning and the guy took him in his car to Heathrow airport.
"I'm just asking for CCTV of my brother at Heathrow Airport and the local shops to see who picked him up."
When asked whether she had been able to obtain the CCTV, Lee responded: "No - the police say it isn't a crime, so no."
She added: "They're passing the buck telling me to contact NCA.
"The NCA laughed at me and said 'well, what do you want us to do?'
"So both have been kind of saying it's not our problem."
When The Sun contacted the NCA for comment, they said the matter is for the Foreign Office and that a criminal investigation taking place abroad is a matter for law enforcement in that country.
They added that anyone wishing to report someone being the victim of the a crime in the UK would need to contact the police and that the NCA is not a public crime reporting body.
The NCA can facilitate UK police to international requests but it would have to be initiated by the law enforcement bodies concerned.
An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a British man who is detained in Japan and are in contact with the local authorities.'
When the Metropolitan Police were contacted for comment they claim to have no record of contact with Sean's family.
This is despite Ami claiming she had visited the police station twice and was provided with a Crime Reference Number.
The Sun previously reported how Australian national, Donna Nelson, was found guilty of smuggling 2kg of methamphetamine into Tokyo in 2023.
She claimed she was the victim of an online romance scam but prosecutors sought a ten-year sentence and $30,000 fine after she was caught with the drug concealed in the bottom of her suitcase.
Autism campaigner, Emma Dalmayne, who has launched a petition to help raise awareness of Sean's plight, said: "Sean is autistic, learning disabled and has a heart condition, he is extremely vulnerable.
"The unpredictability and worry over what will happen to him will be causing him extreme anxiety which will cause harm to him.
"Autistic people are targeted for grooming and mate crimes, what had happened here is a global case of county lines."
Do you know more? Email jordan.farrell@thesun.co.uk
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Missing head of man decapitated ‘by student he'd just met' in Brit holiday hotspot is handed to cops wrapped in foil
The suspect is due to appear before a court on Friday GRUESOME FIND Missing head of man decapitated 'by student he'd just met' in Brit holiday hotspot is handed to cops wrapped in foil Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE missing head of a man whose body was found in a central Lisbon street has been handed in to cops. A student stunned medics when he walked into São José Hospital on Thursday afternoon and told them he had a severed human head in his backpack. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A student has confessed to decapitating a man whose body was found in central Lisbon Credit: Sic Noticias 4 He handed over the severed head to medics before being arrested Credit: Sic Noticias 4 Police were called immediately and confirmed the gruesome find, handing the suspect over to national criminal investigation police, according to Portuguese outlet Correio da Manhã. The man, reportedly a student of African origin, later confessed to the murder and was arrested. He faces charges of aggravated homicide and desecration of a corpse. The suspect had wrapped the head in aluminium foil and stashed it in his bag before going to the hospital, according to investigators. read more world news CITY MYSTERY Cops hunting for HEAD of decapitated man in hols hotspot as new theory emerges He reportedly admitted to meeting the victim just hours before the murder. Police say the motive behind the killing appears to have been trivial. Early forensic tests suggest the head belongs to the same man whose body was found on Patio Salema on Wednesday. The victim - said to be an undocumented man of African descent - showed no signs of gunshot wounds or knife injuries to the head. Police said there is no evidence linking the crime to drugs, either through trafficking or consumption. The suspect will appear before a criminal judge on Friday. Decapitated body found lying in street in Brit hols hotspot - with head still missing Authorities were alerted to a headless body early on Wednesday, They rushed to the scene and cordoned off the street to carry out their investigation. Gustavo Silva, a commentator for CNN Portugal, at the time said that this type of crime "occurs in a very specific context". He issued a warning to the public: "It's macabre and heinous, but people should remain calm." Criminal psychology expert Carlos Alberto Poiares told news channel Sic Noticias: "One thing is clear: the crime wasn't committed there; the body was dumped there. "If he had been decapitated there, the scenario would certainly have been different." Bizarrely, just hours earlier, the body of a woman in her 50s was found in the boot of a car in Costa da Caparica on the outskirts of the capital. It is believed the woman was getting changed in the boot of the car - given that it had no backseats - and suffered a heart attack. Lisbon is known as one of the safest European capitals with a very low crime rate.
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist drowns in Turkey after he's 'found motionless' during boat tour
Despite attempts to resuscitate him, the man died after being discovered by sailors. His death came hours after another Brit drowned in Majorca and two young siblings perished A fourth British holidaymaker has drowned this week after the death of a 47-year-old man on Thursday. The tourist entered the sea in Marmaris, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, during a boat tour, but was later found motionless in the water. The man, who has not yet been named, was discovered by sailors. According to reports, police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of his death. The sailors pulled him from the water and took him to shore where the Coast Guard attempted to save his life. But despite the medical assistance, the man was pronounced dead. His body was then taken to the Mugla Forensic Medicine Institute to determine the cause of his death. It comes after girl, 3, was found dead on beach by a horrified passer-by. Last night, the siblings who tragically drowned at sea during a family trip in Salou in Spain were named. Ameiya, 13, and her 11-year-old brother, Ricardo Junior, from Birmingham, went into the sea on their visit to Llarga beach, near Tarragona before getting into trouble. The siblings, described by loved ones as "beautiful" and "bright", were given treatment following the "incident at sea" but sadly did not survive. The heartbreaking news came a day after another Brit drowned while abroad after being discovered at a hotel pool in Majorca - minutes from the Love Island villa. Paramedics on the island rushed to the three-star BJ Playa Blanca Hotel, in S'Illot, roughly 17 minutes in a car from the the Love Island villa, after receiving an alert about a man found face down in the water. The alarm was raised just after 8.30am on Wednesday. Emergency medical organisation SAMU told the Mirror that the man was 52 years old, while the Civil Guard insisted their information was that he was 72. SAMU said in a statement: 'A British man aged 52 has been found floating face down in the swimming pool of a hotel in s'Illot. "He was pulled out of the water and basic resuscitation manoeuvres were practiced on him until the first ambulances arrived when it was confirmed he had gone into cardiac arrest. Despite attempts to resuscitate him he died. The alarm was raised at 8.37am this morning." An air ambulance is also said to have been mobilised. Island police have launched an investigation and are understood to be at the scene but have yet to make an official comment. The three-star BJ Playa Blanca Hotel is located between the beaches of S'Illott and Sa Coma. The hotel has 100 rooms. It says on its website: "We offer access to the best white sand beaches and mountainous areas of the island. Find spectacular scenery and enjoy the promenade that runs along the coast and connects the two beaches.' It was not immediately clear if the dead man was holidaying alone or with friends or family. The Civil Guard confirmed on Tuesday morning officers were at the hotel and an investigation was underway. They also confirmed the dead man was British - but insisted their information was that he was 72 and not 52 as emergency medical responders had reported earlier. S'Illot is a small tourist town on the east coast of Majorca, with the area boasting a number of resorts, restaurants and bars. With crystal clear waters and a sandy beach, it is perhaps not as busy as Palma but does boast a 3000-year-old archaeological site, dating back to the late Bronze Age. The area is just a short drive from Love Island villa Sa Vinyassa, which is located in a rural area closer to Sant Llorenc des Cardassar. In September last year a teenage British holidaymaker was left fighting for life after plunging headfirst from the first floor of her hotel in the same resort. The drama happened at Playamar Hotel & Apartamentos.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Massachusetts lawmakers propose pay raise for public defenders to end a legal crisis
Lawmakers in Massachusetts have reached a deal to give public defenders a pay raise in hopes of ending a legal crisis that led to cases being dropped and defendants who couldn't get lawyers being released from jail. But the deal was widely criticized by private attorneys who handle a bulk of cases for indigent clients, raising doubts as to whether the pay raise will be enough to end a work stoppage public defenders launched in May. The stoppage has led to more than 120 cases being dropped, including some for serious crimes such as domestic abuse and assaulting a police officer. Dozens more defendants were released from jail because they had no legal counsel. As many as 3,000 defendants have been without attorneys. The deal lawmakers will vote on Thursday calls for spending $40 million to double the number of attorneys who work for the state Committee for Public Counsel Services and allows for hiring 320 more public defenders by the end of fiscal 2027. It also would raise the hourly rate paid to private attorneys who work as public defenders by $20 an hour over two years, a 30% increase. The committee's chief counsel, Anthony Benedetti, applauded the proposed funding increase and called it 'the most significant progress ever made toward improving Bar Advocate pay and strengthening the statewide right to counsel.' But Sean Delaney, speaking at press conference surrounded by private attorneys who handle a bulk of the cases, said the plan was inadequate and called on lawmakers to reject it. Many advocates, he said, would continue refusing new cases unless their rates are increased $35 an hour in fiscal year 2026 and $25 an hour the year after. The challenges were on display in a Boston courtroom last week, when case after case was dropped due to the 'Lavallee protocol.' It requires cases be dropped if a defendant hasn't had an attorney for 45 days and that the defendants be released from custody if they haven't had representation for seven days. Several of those cases involved assaults on police officers and domestic violence. One suspect allegedly punched his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach and slapped her in the face. Another case involved a woman who was allegedly assaulted by the father of her child, who she said threatened to kill her and tried to strangle her. Earlier this month, a judge in Lowell struggled to balance the need for public safety with the requirements of the Lavalle protocol. Judge John Coffey considered more than a dozen defendants for release, choosing to keep the most serious alleged offenders — including a man accused of running down and badly injuring a police officer — behind bars. He released at least three suspects, including a woman jailed for a probation violation. The woman, Edith Otero, 52, of Boston, yelled out: 'Thank you, your honor. God Bless you.' Outside the court, Otero said she had been in jail since the end of June and that it had been 'very, very depressing' to attend court hearings without legal representation. She said she had a litany of health issues and it was 'wonderful' to finally be out. 'I thank the Lord,' Otero said, speaking to reporters from a wheelchair.
