I am 47 years old and originally from Nigeria. I first came to Hong Kong in 2010 and was subsequently arrested for drug trafficking at the Hong Kong International Airport. I pleaded guilty to the charge and served my sentence until my release from prison in 2018. Since then, I have stayed in the city and lived as an asylum seeker.
In 2019, when the Covid pandemic struck, family and friends who were financially supporting me lost their jobs. Moreover, I used to earn a small amount of money helping people that came from Africa to buy second-hand electronics goods, but they stopped coming to Hong Kong because of the pandemic. I started having difficulty meeting my basic daily needs, and then in 2020, my girlfriend informed me that she was pregnant. This made the situation worse, and as a result, I began looking for help.
In desperation to earn money, I turned to some old clients whom I used to help since they couldn’t come to Hong Kong due to the pandemic. However, some of these clients reduced their orders because of lockdowns in their countries, and they couldn’t sell the previous goods they had ordered through me because their shops were closed.
Then in May 2020, I met this guy nicknamed “Baby boy”, who offered to pay me a small sum of money for storing drugs for him and he would collect them from me when needed. I accepted the offer and in July 2020, I collected the drugs from him to keep in my house. Three days later, the police came to my house, searched and found the drugs Baby boy had given me to keep, so I was arrested again for drug trafficking.
Lesson learnedFriends, I am writing this story to share my firsthand experience of the pain, stress, and broken relationships I have suffered due to drug trafficking. No matter how difficult your situation may seem, do not accept any offer to traffic drugs in Hong Kong or to bring drugs into Hong Kong as a drug mule. The consequences are severe, and you could spend the rest of your life in prison if caught.
Friends, you should be aware of people who offer to pay for your trip to Hong Kong and have you carry luggage or items that you have not seen before in exchange for payment. These stories are often tricks. Being a drug trafficker or drug mule does not pay off. Instead, you risk your life and your family will suffer as a result of your actions.
As for me, I am currently in prison as a drug mule and trafficker. I wouldn’t wish this experience on anyone, as the pain of being separated from my family is unbearable. My hope is that my story reaches the ears, minds, and hearts of those who might consider becoming drug mules or traffickers in Hong Kong.
Note: This letter has been edited from its original to improve readability.
