A 79-year-old British pensioner, William ‘Billy Boy’ Eastment, has been identified and pictured after being detained at Santiago International Airport in Chile for allegedly attempting to smuggle five kilograms of methamphetamine.
Eastman arrived in Chile from Cancun, Mexico, en route to Sydney, Australia, but was stopped by airport authorities who discovered crystal meth hidden in a false compartment within his luggage. The drugs are reportedly worth around £200,000.
The retired HGV and bus fitter insists he did not know about the narcotics concealed in his suitcase, claiming he was duped and handed the briefcase at Cancun airport, according to Mirror.co.uk
One said Eastment had told them he was thinking of moving to Mexico just days before his arrest.
According to Eastment, he was promised a payout of $5 million (£3.7 million) to deliver the luggage to its destination and even showed police a certificate claiming the prize money.
Neighbours from his quiet cul-de-sac in Milborne Port, Somerset, described him as a simple, modest pensioner who loved fishing and playing bowls, with no apparent ties to criminal activity.
One neighbour said, “I don’t understand how someone like him got caught up in this. He wasn’t living a flashy life, just a regular old guy.”
Sergio Paredes, head of the Anti-Narcotics Division at Santiago’s airport, acknowledged the unusual nature of the case, describing Eastment as a “frail-looking, elderly man” who had recently undergone surgery but was found carrying a large volume of methamphetamine.
“The false bottom in his suitcase was full,” Paredes said. “We believe he acted as a drug mule for a criminal organisation, but investigations continue into the origin and intended destination of the drugs.”
Eastman is currently being held in Santiago 1 Penitentiary, which primarily houses non-violent offenders. Under Chilean law, he can be detained for up to 120 days before formal charges must be filed.
While initial reports suggested a potential 15-year prison sentence if convicted, legal experts in Chile believe a five-year term is more likely given the circumstances.
This case highlights a wider trend involving British nationals reportedly caught in drug trafficking operations abroad.
Earlier this year, 18-year-old Bella May Culley from Billingham was arrested in Georgia for allegedly transporting 14 kilograms of cannabis, sparking an international search after she was first reported missing in Thailand.
Similarly, 21-year-old Charlotte Lee May, a former London flight attendant, was apprehended in Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying 46 kilograms of synthetic cannabis known as ‘Kush’. She maintains her innocence, insisting the drugs were planted without her knowledge.
Dr James Windle, a sociologist at University College Cork, shed light on the sophisticated recruitment tactics used by drug traffickers.
He explained how criminal groups often identify vulnerable individuals by appealing to their desires for money, holidays, or addressing addictions.
“The recruitment process can initially appear consensual, with traffickers offering incentives such as fully paid trips,” Dr Windle said. “However, once involved, individuals may face coercion or threats if they attempt to withdraw.”
He added that some victims of drug trafficking only realise the extent of their exploitation after months or even years of manipulation.
