An operational youtubeur was stopped by having passed drugs in Japan

Suspicious packages. As Running magazine reports, YouTubeur Running Matthew Fox was arrested after trying to spend drugs to Japan.

It all starts last February, when the Creator of Australian content goes to Japan to direct the Osaka Marathon. The cameraman does not finish the race, and leaves kilometer 22. But apart from that, the event takes place without problems.

“Most countries don’t care”

But on April 9, he was suddenly arrested by the police. The latter accuses him of having tried to enter clandestinely into the tablets in the country. Matthew Fox would have tried to send drugs to Japan from the United States through an international messaging service.

In an episode of his podcast, the cameraman explained that he was generally traveling with THC tablets to help handle his anxiety and sleep. “I travel with gums, most countries do not care, but Japan is different. They tend to look for you every time,” he said.

In fact, the recreational use of the substance is completely illegal in Japan. If it is convicted, YouTubeur could face several years in prison or be expelled for life from the country. He has already had problems with Japanese justice. In 2023, he was banished by the life of the half marathon of the city of AUG, after being surprised.

Several precedents

Matthew Fox became known on YouTube by participating in many marathons. The influencer is followed by 144,000 on its “Sweat Elite” channel. Recently he released a great challenge: running a marathon per month in less than 2 hours 30 minutes.

Therefore, the influencer joins the long list of foreign cameramen who violate laws in the country. Last example in January 2024. Streamer Johnny Somalí, passing through Japan, had fun screaming with an elevator “Hiroshima”, in reference to the atomic bombardment, in front of the passengers in the dismantling subway.

In another video, it can be seen shouting “Fukushima” several times, in reference to the 2011 nuclear accident. Everything in a place … which, however, access was prohibited.

The YouTubeur was arrested in August and December 2023. He was ordered to pay a fine of 200,000 yen (around 1,260 euros) for its intrusion on the site. YouTubeur, 24, was returned to the United States, without another form of judgment.

In October 2023, the YouTubeur Fidias Panayiotou (Today MEP) had also launched an unusual challenge: running with three friends throughout the country, but while traveling without paying.