A court in Malaysia has sentenced a Japanese woman to hang for smuggling 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine into the country.

Officials said Tuesday that Mariko Takeuchi, a 37-year-old nurse, is the first Japanese citizen to be sentenced to death in Malaysia.

Takeuchi was arrested on her arrival from Dubai in October 2009. She argued at her trial that she had been duped into carrying a suitcase containing the drugs by an Iranian acquaintance.

Her lawyer said he will appeal the verdict.

Malaysian law carries a mandatory sentence of death by hanging for drug smuggling. More than 400 convicted drug smugglers are awaiting execution in the country.