A Perth grandmother who claims a love scammer tricked her into taking two kilograms of methamphetamine into Japan has told a court she had met romantic interests overseas before.

Donna Nelson was arrested in January 2023 at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, after drugs were found hidden in a false bottom of her suitcase. 

She has been detained at Chiba prison ever since.

Her defence lawyers have told her criminal trial in Japan Ms Nelson picked up the suitcase in Laos for a love interest named Kelly she'd been speaking to online for two years.

The court heard the man told Ms Nelson he was a successful fashion designer with shops across the world and was too busy to get the suitcase, which he said contained fashion samples.

The trial was told Kelly did not trust the items would arrive safely in Japan via the post, so he encouraged Ms Nelson to pick them up as she transited to Japan to meet him for the first time.

"Is it true you transported this suitcase knowing what was inside?" Defence lawyer Nishida Rie asked through a translator.

"No, it's not true," Ms Nelson responded.

"Is it true you transported the suitcase knowing there might be illegal substances?" Ms Nishida asked.

"That's incorrect," Ms Nelson said.

The court has heard of romantic video calls and extensive text messages between Ms Nelson and Kelly, in which they discussed their shared interests and Kelly's fashion business.

Ms Nelson told the court she had previously met two online love interests overseas, one from New Jersey and the other in Oklahoma, in the United States.

One of her daughters also met her husband online while he resided in the UK.

Ms Nelson told the court she was seeking a serious relationship, and Kelly had promised to love her forever.

"He seemed liked a gentleman. He was softly spoken."

Kelly has been described as a Nigerian man and the court heard Ms Nelson was seeking a "black man" for a partner, as the pair would have shared interests and experiences.

"Discrimination … family … cultural issues," Ms Nelson explained.

A teary Ms Nelson earlier told the court her former husband left her while she was pregnant with their fifth child.

Ms Nelson has been unable to speak directly with her family since her arrest, and the grandmother's evidence today was the first time her daughters could hear speak extensively.

"This will be the first time in 22 months that mum will be able to give her version of what happened," daughter Kristal Hilaire said outside of court.

"I am hoping that the judges can see that she has been a victim of this love scam and that she was not aware at all of what was in that suitcase.

"I hope by having her daughters here present that we empower her to be that strong outspoken woman that she always has been."

The trial is continuing, with a verdict expected in early December.