Charlie Heaton denied entry to U.S. for cocaine possession - report

Stranger Things star Charlie Heaton was denied entry to the U.S. for alleged cocaine possession.

The 23-year-old British actor, who plays Jonathan Byers on the hit Netflix show, was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on 21 October (17), People.com reports.

A law enforcement official confirmed to the website that Heaton was denied entry into the United States and sent back to the United Kingdom the same day. Authorities allegedly found cocaine on the actor, and he was detained but not arrested. It was reported that a random baggage check uncovered trace amounts of the class A drug in his bag.

Editors at The Sun newspaper claim the actor was caught by sniffer dogs at the airport, and border officials later found traces of white powder on his personal items.

Heaton was flying into the U.S. ahead of Netflix's premiere party for Stranger Things second season, and the actor was noticeably absent on Thursday (26Oct17) as his co-stars Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, Gaten Matarazzo and Noah Schnapp posed for pictures on the red carpet.

His brush with the law may also cast doubt on any future filming commitments for Stranger Things, as it is feared he may be banned from entering the country in future.

A statement obtained by PEOPLE from the Customs and Border Protection says any “foreign national may be inadmissible due to the commission of a crime involving drug possession.”

“A violation, conspiracy to violate or simply an attempt to violate any U.S. State, federal or any foreign government controlled substance violation renders a foreign national inadmissible to the United States,” it reads.

A rep for Heaton has yet to comment on the reports.

The second season of Stranger Things premiered on Netflix on Friday (27Oct17).