Month: May 2023

Finding forgiveness at the cross

I grew up in a Christian family. Although I went to church with my parents, I felt that religious faith was out of reach and untouchable. My mother was a college principal, and my father was a professor. I used to be an obedient child, but as I grew up, I faced many challenges and temptations.

While studying for a Nursing degree at the University of Hong Kong, I developed a heavy dependence on smoking, drinking, and relationships with men. One summer, while partying at a nightclub, I tried drugs and soon became addicted.

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The package that stole my freedom

I am currently 25 years old and I have been in remand for over nine months on drug trafficking charges. When I was first arrested, I was very confused. I didn’t know anything about drugs, and I had no idea about the trial process or sentencing details. Learning that I might be sentenced to over twenty years imprisonment for the 1.8 kg of drugs found in the package I picked up left me feeling hopeless.

I grew up in a lower-middle-class family with one older brother. My father worked as a chef, while my mother stayed home to take care of the household. My parents would often argue due to financial issues, and they constantly instilled in us the belief that “money is extremely important, without it we cannot survive.” This made me eager to earn money and alleviate the financial burden on my family. My family was also relatively introverted, and we did not communicate much about personal matters, which led me to develop a more independent personality.

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Ten years of recklessness

I am a 32-year-old mother of three. I have been on remand for 24 months for trafficking dangerous drugs (methamphetamine), awaiting sentencing.

Family separation

My parents divorced when I was about seven years old. I lived with my grandparents, but I kept a very good relationship with my mom. Although I seldom saw her, I loved her very much. My mother remarried when I was in grade three. She moved to England with her new husband for a while. I pretended like nothing happened when I said goodbye to her at the airport. However, I secretly cried after she left. I remember she sent me a letter with £10 in it for my birthday that year. I cried each time I read through the letter. Six months later, my mom divorced again, returned to Hong Kong and I moved back to live with her. During primary school, I was a top-performing student, consistently ranking in the top ten of my class. In addition to my academic pursuits, I participated in many after-school activities and learned to play musical instruments. Piano lessons were paid for by my grandparents.

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Scapegoat on wheels: 14 years behind bars

I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and found myself wheelchair-bound. My financial situation was dire, and I was desperate for money. An old friend suggested that I deliver drugs and introduced me to a man from India who promised to inform me when he had drugs to deliver. The pay was HK$20,000 to HK$30,000 per run, but I was still unsure whether I should take the job.

One night, my friend called me twice in the early hours of the morning, but I did not answer. When I called him back the next day, he asked if I had anything to do. I told him I had to go to the hospital for an MRI. He then asked me to call him again after my examination, and when I did, he offered me a drug delivery job for HK$50,000. I agreed without thinking twice.

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Hong Kong police seize 227kg of cocaine in biggest bust of the year

Hong Kong police seized 227 kilograms of suspected cocaine from two industrial units on Friday and made five arrests, in what amounts to the largest haul of the year.

In a separate raid on Friday, 10 kilograms of suspected heroin concealed in cosmetics were seized from a residential flat in Jordan, the Force announced on Sunday.

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Belgium arrests 30 over huge drug trafficking ring

Belgian police on Wednesday detained 30 suspects accused of drug trafficking in an operation that also saw authorities in Spain swoop on a string of locations.

Prosecutors in the port city of Antwerp, a major hub for illicit drugs coming into Europe, said in a statement that police conducted raids at addresses across Belgium.

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European anti-mafia raids target over 100 suspects

Police made dozens of arrests across Europe as part of a “wide-scale” operation against the notorious Italian ‘Ndrangheta mafia, officials said on Wednesday.

In Germany, hundreds of officers carried out raids in five parts of the country, regional prosecutors said in a statement, adding that operations also took place in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Thirty people were arrested in Germany alone as dozens of apartments, houses and offices were searched.

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