Japanese police have arrested a 27-year-old United States Air Force captain in Okinawa over suspected drunk driving, barely a week after Tokyo and Washington agreed on additional measures to curb offences involving American military personnel.

The officer, identified as Omena Mushale, was arrested at about 3:09 a.m. on Saturday while driving along a road in Okinawa City, according to local police.

Mushale, who is assigned to Kadena Air Base, was arrested on suspicion of violating Japan’s road traffic law.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over misconduct involving US service members stationed in Okinawa, following a separate case involving an American Marine accused of robbery and murder.

The US military has approximately 54,000 personnel stationed in Japan, with a significant proportion based on Okinawa.

Last week, American military authorities announced stricter measures to prevent further incidents, including extending a curfew for lower-ranking personnel until December 7.

The military also prohibited all service members from consuming alcohol outside their homes between midnight and 5:00 a.m.

However, an Okinawa prefectural police spokesman said it was not immediately clear whether the arrested officer had violated the military curfew.

The arrest has renewed attention on efforts by Japanese and American authorities to address concerns about the conduct of US military personnel and their impact on local communities.

Officials at Kadena Air Base were not immediately available for comment.

The investigation into the alleged offence is ongoing, and the captain has not been convicted.