Toyota's highest-ranking female executive was arrested at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday for allegedly importing a painkiller that is illegal under Japan's strict drug laws, reports said Thursday.

The charges against American Julie Hamp came after customs agents last week found 57 tablets containing oxycodone in the bottom of a package sent to her from the U.S., according to reports by the Asahi newspaper and public broadcaster NHK.

Hamp, 55, said she did not believe she was committing a crime, the reports said. However, if found guilty of importing the drugs, she could face one to 10 years in Japanese prison.

American Julie Hamp, 55,was arrested at a Tokyo hotel on Thursday for allegedly importing a painkiller that is illegal under Japan's strict drug law. Customs agents last week found 57 tablets containing oxycodone

Police declined to comment Thursday.

Toyota, reached by USA TODAY, is backing Hamp.

'Toyota has been made aware of Miss Hamp's arrest but has no further facts in light of the ongoing investigation by authorities,' the automaker said.

'We are confident, however, that once the investigation is complete it will be revealed that there was no intention by Miss Hamp to violate any law.'

Hamp pictured above with her husband Nicholas at the Super Bowl in a photo posted to Facebook. A conviction for importing oxycodone into Japan carries a sentence of one to 10 years in prison

Hamp was promoted in March to head of communications for the auto giant after previously working at Toyota's North American division.

She's Toyota's first female managing officer. Before that, the Queens, New York native, held positions at Pepsi Co and General Motors.

Japanese drug laws ban some medications commonly available in other countries and jail time for possession of illegal narcotics such as cocaine or methamphetamine are not uncommon.

The U.S. Embassy warns Americans about the country's strict drug laws on its website, with bold letters saying Americans will be arrested if they are caught mailing or bringing banned medications into Japan.

Many Americans have been arrested before for bringing medication with them that they were legally prescribed at home, and even over-the counter medications like Sudafed.

While the Japanese government sometimes makes exceptions for travelers bringing these medications with them to the country, they must get advance permission from the Japanese government prior to their trip.

Just earlier this year, an American teaching English in Japan was detained for two weeks after Japanese authorities intercepted a package containing legally-prescribed tablets for the medication Adderall, used to treat attention deficit disorder.

Carrie Russell was only released after intervention from U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and Senator Ron Wyden, of her homestate of Oregon.

Russell told the Oregonian after her release that detention facility was 'not anything terrifying,' and that she was fed bento box meals and assigned daily chores.