Japanese police arrested a US Air Force captain on Saturday on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa. The arrest occurred on a road in Okinawa City at approximately 3:09 AM, according to a police spokesman. The 27-year-old captain, assigned to Kadena Air Base, has not yet been confirmed to have violated the curfew imposed by US military officials.
This incident comes just one week after Tokyo and Washington announced new measures designed to curb crimes committed by US service members in Japan, particularly in Okinawa. Public concern had escalated following a recent murder allegedly involving an American Marine, which sparked outrage among local residents. There are around 54,000 US military personnel stationed in Japan, predominantly on the island.
In response to ongoing crime concerns, US military leadership extended a curfew for lower-ranking service members until December 7 and prohibited all service members from consuming alcohol outside their homes between midnight and 5 AM. Officials from Kadena Air Base were not immediately available for comment regarding the incident.
