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 twenty years imprisonment for the 1.8 kg of drugs found in the package I picked up left me feeling hopeless.
My criminal record will stay with me for a lifetime. But I understand that this is my punishment. I hope my story can influence someone’s mind in a positive way.
Since being incarcerated, I have been identified by a number and must follow strict rules, I’ve lost my freedom. At first, I lived in a cell alone without anyone to talk to. I felt overwhelmed and constantly blamed myself for the mistakes I’d made. After reflecting on my actions, I realized I could only move forward and start over. I don’t want to disappoint my family anymore. They visit me every week, bringing me daily necessities and reminding me not to make such mistakes again.
I have wasted a lot of time in life due to what I’ve done, and I have caused many people to suffer and worry about me. My criminal record will stay with me for a lifetime. But I understand that this is my punishment. I hope my story can influence someone’s mind in a positive way. I did not succumb to drug addiction, and I did not let drugs affect my health. However, drugs have caused me to lose a lot of things including money, my career, and my future. Therefore, I despise drugs, and I don’t want anyone to get lost because of them.
Looking back, I have a hard time accepting my situation. But I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends, so I won’t give up. I am enrolling in distance courses for self-improvement and have decided to apply for jobs to learn new skills.
This experience has taught me not to trust ‘friends’ easily. And most importantly, I know that family is forever my strongest support. I deeply regret the decision I made and hope to help others in the future with my experience.
Note: This letter has been translated and edited from its original in Chinese. Switch language to read the original letter.