This is the story of how I came to be in custody by Hong Kong’s Customs for being found in possession of dangerous drugs upon my arrival at the Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday, October 6, 2018.
I’m a 64-year-old man from Honduras. I’m a professional in Social Sciences and Social Work with a Master’s degree in Public Health from the National University in Honduras. I’ve dedicated more than 35 years to the management, design, and implementation of social projects for poor families in my country. I did this work through NGOs and in close coordination with governmental programs.
In May 2018 I was contacted by the United Nations and the Central Bank of Nigeria (BCN) about the approval of some funds to work on social programs for the next seven years (2018-2025). The funds would be channeled through the UN which would pay the funds through the Nigerian Central Bank and the latter through the HSBC bank in Hong Kong.
Before I traveled to Hong Kong I was informed I would need to go to Sao Paulo Brazil first to sign some documents (certificates of approval). I was sent the money for the journey.
I traveled to Brazil from September 20-25, 2018. When I arrived in Sao Paulo I was given copies of two certificates on UN and BCN letterhead. On the surface, everything seemed legitimate but before I went to the Sao Paulo airport for my return flight I was asked to bring four gifts to give to an officer of HSBC in Hong Kong to expedite the funds’ transfer.
I inspected the backpack and the four gifts were shirts, ties, and pants. I also inspected the backpack itself and it was completely new so I assumed it was all in order since the man who was handing it to me was a supposed UN/BCN officer.
I flew back to Honduras for another week and on October 2 I got a message from Dr. Dennis Holman, assumed Managing Director of BCN in Nigeria to confirm my flight to Hong Kong on October 4.
I was sent the boarding pass, the itinerary, and hotel reservation. The hotel’s name was Cityview.
I flew to Hong Kong on October 4 and arrived on October 6 at 10:40 pm. I was carrying my small suitcase and the backpack with the gifts.
Upon arrival, I went through Immigration but when I was about to exit the airport, I was stopped by Customs officers and told they wanted to check my luggage. Everything was OK with my personal luggage but when they searched the backpack they found a false bottom where they found 2.1kg of cocaine.
At the very moment when the Customs officers found the drugs in the backpack, I realized I had been a victim of international organized crime mafia. I had been used and deceived by criminals who posed as international organizations like the UN, BCN, and HSBC.
I was asked if the bag was mine, and I said yes but only the gifts. They took me to the Customs office and asked me if the drug was mine, I said no, only the gifts were.
They interviewed me in English and Cantonese and I told them I could not understand. That I needed a lawyer and a translator. They took me to another office to continue their questioning but I told them again that I needed a lawyer and a translator. I felt the Customs officer wanted me to agree to the ownership of the drugs but I never agreed because I was never aware of the drugs.
Later they told me that if I assist them they would also help me. So I agreed. On that Saturday evening (Oct 6) there was a covert operation to try to catch the person who would come to the hotel to collect the backpack from me. That night the police stayed in my room to see if I would receive a phone call, but there was no phone call.
The next day the police told me to continue assisting them as they wanted to capture the man who would come to collect the bag. I finally got in touch with the person via phone who told me to wait for him in the hotel lobby and that he would come by in the morning to get the bag. I waited for more than two hours in the lobby but the man never showed up.
The police aborted the operation in the afternoon and took me to the Customs office and they told me via a translator that there would be a video recording so I could answer (or not) their questions about my case.
I answered all the personal questions but I never accepted that the drug was mine and I told them that I would only answer that in the presence of a lawyer and with a translator.
The officer stopped the video that evening and took me to prison. I think sometime around 10 pm. The next day I was taken to court where I was told about the charge that I was being accused of, and then I was taken to where I am being held now.
At the very moment when the Customs officers found the drugs in the backpack, I realized I had been a victim of an international organized crime mafia. I had been used and deceived by criminals who posed as international organizations like the UN, BCN, and HSBC.
My story can be corroborated by all the evidence and documents in the hands of the police. They have my passport and all my personal documents of the NGO that I represent (PROSAMH), the original certificates from the BCN and UN, copies of all the emails from BCN and UN as well as from the phony BCN officer (Dr. Dennis Holman). The police also have my laptop computer where I keep all my information and project files.
My situation is very dire as at the moment of writing this letter I haven’t had access to any guidance or legal aid, I don’t have a Spanish-English translator, I haven’t had any information or help from anyone.
I don’t have any money to pay for a private lawyer. I have had two appointments with the court to offer a US$100 bail which is all I had on me at the time I was seized by the police, but I don’t think the courts accept this small amount. I’ve been denied bail twice. I don’t know anyone in Hong Kong. I haven’t been able to contact my family – neither by letter or phone call. Only via Whatsapp.
I would like to declare my innocence. I’m not a drug trafficker, I’m not a criminal. I don’t take drugs. I have a clean record in my country.
I ask for forgiveness from society, the government, the police, and the court of law for this situation. I ask for justice by conducting a thorough investigation to prove my story. I need the help of a lawyer.
I’m a Christian and I don’t lie, I don’t steal, I don’t kill. That’s what the word of God says. In the name of Jesus, I need freedom, protection, and the help of any organization defending human rights and legal rights.
Peace be with you and thank you for your solidarity.
Note: The original letter is written in Spanish and has been translated and edited to aid readability.
