The Innocent Victims: Travelers Convicted for Drug Trafficking

In December 2008, 52 year old Australian teacher Susan Dalziel was sentenced to 28 years in a Mauritian prison for drug (heroin) trafficking. Susan will be 80 years of age on release if she survives her ordeal in prison. She continues to plead not guilty and believes she was a victim of the common practice of targeting foreign travelers and used as a decoy for the real traffickers. Susan is not a heroin addict and has no prior convictions, yet she has been detained and convicted on the basis that heroin was 'found' in her baggage. This is a clear travel warning for us all and a reminder of the world epidemic of drug trafficking.

We should be careful not to judge people found guilty of drug trafficking because there must always be reasonable doubt where drugs are 'found' in someone's baggage following air travel since, after our baggage is checked in, we lose complete control over what happens to it until we retrieve it at our final destination hours later. Unfortunately Susan is invisible to the authorities in Mauritius because she is merely one of so many who are convicted of drug trafficking every year.

Officials in countries like Mauritius can not be blamed for their extreme intolerance to drug trafficking since they are battling continuously with an out of control drug epidemic, and reviewing every individual case is an impossible task. The drug epidemic is having severe consequences on their community in terms of escalating crime and HIV infection. This means that foreign travelers need to take on extra care and responsibility for their own welfare.

Other Foreign Travelers Convicted for Drug Trafficking

Susan Dalziel's circumstances are not unusual, many other foreign travelers have been innocent victims of corruption in countries like Mauritius, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia and other locations where drug trafficking is a known problem.

Australian Schapelle Corby was convicted of drug trafficking when drugs were 'found' in her boogie board bag in Bali; another easy target with insecure baggage. Schapelle has maintained her innocence since her arrest in 2004, and lodged a series of appeals against her conviction, all of which have been refused. Indonesia is especially tough on drugs; sometimes to the point where targeting foreigners may be deliberately set up just to send a message to the world.

Another innocent victim is Deborah Kerr from Canada who was convicted in Pakistan for drug trafficking, although the bag containing heroin did not even belong to her but to a stranger who simply dumped the bag close to her. Deborah was too trusting and did not suspect any risk. Interestingly, Pakistani nationals who were also arrested in this case were all released. Targeting foreign travelers is too easy.

A US citizen, Brian Meisenberg, was convicted and sentenced for possession of methamphetamine in Thailand in 2007. It is possible that he was set up by those wanting to extort money from his family and friends in exchange for 'help' with his case since his email account was broken into and emails distributed from his account asking for money. He was arrested for overstaying his visa.

More details on these people and others like them can be obtained from the Foreign Prisoner Support Service website.

How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim of Corruption

Check all official sources relating to travel warnings before deciding on a travel destination.

Be vigilant while traveling whether alone or in company to avoid becoming a target for criminals. To decrease your risk of becoming a target while traveling, be sure to carry a hard covered case with no pockets on the outside and which locks securely. Drug traffickers will not bother tampering with a bag that presents difficulties when there are so many others with easier access.

Walk away from any unaccompanied baggage, and move around the airport to avoid being singled out as a target. Don't ever take your eyes off your own baggage, and don't allow even trusted friends access to them while packing. Being too trusting can turn you into an innocent victim of drug trafficking.

Don't draw attention to yourself by overstaying your visa or committing any other minor violation of the law; you may also be targeted for other crimes simply by being a foreign traveler. Sometimes just being a foreigner is reason enough for someone to cast suspicion upon you. Women especially should make sure they are dressed appropriately to meet the standards for that country. If you want to voice disapproval over cultural differences then do it in the safety of your own country.

Read the stories from other foreign travelers charged and convicted for drug trafficking or other offences in order to learn from their mistakes or lack of vigilance. Travel safe.