Police raid Toyota offices after arresting U.S. executive • YURI KAGEYAMA

[Fay Dickson-- AKA doofs]

TOKYO — Police raided Toyota Motor Corp.'s headquarters and its Tokyo and Nagoya offices on Tuesday following the arrest of a senior American executive on suspicion of drug law violations.

Toyota spokesman Ryo Sakai said the company could not comment on the raids because the investigation is ongoing.

Julie Hamp, 55, Toyota's newly appointed head of public relations and its highest female executive ever, was arrested June 18 on suspicion of importing oxycodone, a narcotic pain killer, into Japan. The drug is tightly controlled in Japan.

Police say the drugs were in a parcel Hamp mailed to herself. Japanese media reports said the drugs were hidden in a package containing jewelry.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda said last Friday that he believes Hamp did not intend to break the law.

It is unclear what police were looking for in the raids, which are common after arrests.

Hamp, who was appointed in April and previously worked for Toyota's U.S. operations, was in the middle of moving her possessions to Japan. She had been living in a Tokyo hotel, where police arrested her.

Toyota, based in Toyota City, had highlighted Hamp's appointment as a sign that it was promoting diversity.

Some worry that Hamp's arrest will be seen as a sign of risks that come with promoting women, or foreigners, setting back women's efforts to rise up the corporate ladder.

Hamp was not available for comment. In Japan, suspects can be held in custody for up to 23 days without formal charges.                                       http://napavalleyregister.com/ap/business/police-raid-toyota-office...