Australian grandma detained in Japan over romance scam

An Aussie grandma has been detained in Japan over drug trafficking – but her friends say she was the victim of a Nigerian romance scam.

An Australian grandmother has been detained in Japan after allegedly being found with drugs in her luggage – but her friends and family insist she was the victim of a Nigerian love scam.

Perth woman Donna Nelson, who is an indigenous community leader and was once a candidate for the Greens, took a personal trip through Asia earlier this month and was arrested at Tokyo’s Narita Airport.

Friends and family have had little contact with her ever since, but this week told Nine newspapers they believe the grandma-of-three was groomed by a Nigerian romance scammer for two years before her arrest.

According to loved ones, Ms Nelson travelled to Japan to meet her lover, with whom she had connected two years earlier on an online dating site called AfroIntroductions.

Ms Nelson’s daughters were reportedly aware their mum was travelling to meet a man she had met online, and felt uneasy about the situation.

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Grandma-of-three Donna Nelson has been detained in Japan over a reported love scam. Picture: Australian Greens

Drugs allegedly ‘hidden’ in grandma’s suitcase

It’s understood Ms Nelson initially travelled to Laos, but did not meet with the man. Instead, an associate is believed to have met her at a hotel and gave her a suitcase to carry on her travels.

It’s believed drugs were hidden inside the suitcase and found by Japanese authorities upon her arrival in Tokyo in the early days of January.

Ms Nelson was arrested and detained for suspected drug trafficking and has had little contact with friends and family who first became concerned when she did not return to Australia as planned.

Family members said they had been able to pass Ms Nelson messages through a lawyer, and were told she was being cared for.

A ‘victim’, not a drug trafficker

Those close to the Aussie grandmother said they were shocked to hear she had been lured into such a situation, and insisted she was a victim, not a drug trafficker.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has released little detail about the case, but confirmed it was “providing consular assistance to an Australian woman detained in Japan and her family”.

Ms Nelson was previously a candidate for The Greens. Picture: Facebook

“DFAT and the Australian Embassy in Tokyo remain focused on ensuring the welfare of the Australian woman,” the department said in a statement.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are not able to provide further details.”

Authorities from Chiba Prefectural Police HQ, which is believed to be handling Ms Nelson’s case, refused to provide any information.

“We can’t confirm or tell you anything about the case including arrest or detention,” their official response read.

“This case has not been released to the media.

“For those cases we can’t tell you anything and we will not be releasing any details from now on.”

Greens political career

Ms Nelson, who is a Ballardong Njaki-Njaki woman from Perth, was the Greens candidate for Pearce in the 2022 federal election.

“Over the past 30 years I have worked across several industries including community advocacy and government, while raising my five children and becoming a grandmother to three more,” she said in her Greens biography while candidate.

“As an Aboriginal woman, I know that more must be done for the rights and equality of women, and to stamp out sexism and disrespect everywhere.”

Ms Nelson didn’t succeed in her bid for Pearce, a former Liberal stronghold, after it was flipped by the Labor Party for the first time.

Ms Nelson, who is considered an indigenous community leader, was earlier this week “relieved” from her role as chair of the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.

She has since been “relieved” of her role at an indigenous health organisation. Picture: ABC News.

Both the chair and deputy chair are required to approve funding decisions, and as such the service said it was at a standstill for as long as Ms Nelson’s return remained uncertain.

“We’ve read the family reports and it makes us incredibly sad and compassionate, it is an enormously difficult time for Donna’s family and friends here in WA and truly, our hearts go out as we try and make sense of the unimaginable situation unfolding,” CEO Tracey Brand told ABC Radio.

“She is a woman of integrity, of credibility. She has fearless leadership and she has played an integral role in stabilising the governance of the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service.”

Ms Brand said she last spoke to Ms Nelson on January 2, while she was overseas, but had been unable to contact her after that.

WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed Australia was providing consular assistance. Picture: Sharon Smith/NCA NewsWire

Japan’s strict detainment laws

In Japan, people can be – and often are – detained for more than three weeks before charges are even laid.

Under Japanese law, a person must be brought before a prosecutor within 72 hours of their arrest. The court may then give permission for a further 10 days of detainment, which can later be extended for yet another 10 days.

This means a typical detention period is 23 days long.

Bail cannot be considered during this time. Lawyers typically have access to the detainee, but friends and family struggle to visit.

WA Premier Mark McGowan met with Australia’s ambassador to Japan earlier this week as part of a planned tour of Asia. A spokesperson for Mr McGowan said Ms Nelson’s case was discussed.

“The Premier also received assurances that in relation to Ms Nelson, all consular assistance that could be provided was being provided,” the spokesperson said.

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