WESTERN BUREAU:
DERRICK HEAVEN will never forget a telephone call he received at 10:30 one night while he was in the United Kingdom.
A Jamaican had been held at Heathrow Airport for drugs and the authorities there needed an interpreter.
This case, in which a man had been given a passport, US$1,500 and 86 condoms filled with cocaine, was but one of the many incidents that the former UK Ambassador had to be involved in during his tenure. When he left last year there were 600 drug mules in prison there 40 of whom were women.
"The fact is that Jamaicans are the most highly represented nationality in Her Majesty's prisons," he told the Cornwall College Reunion 2000 held at the Caribbean Showplace, Montego Bay, on Friday night.
Colombians and Nigerians hold second and third positions.
"Many people find themselves in prison, with their families here knowing nothing. A lot of people are incarcerated and their families think 'dem deh a farin a work'," Mr. Heaven said.
"I still remember the tragedy of three 'A' Level students I met, who will not be out until their early 30s."
He warned that the chances of getting caught are very high, and punishment as swift as it is sure.
"Agents have detailed information. They know who bought your ticket, where you sat on the plane, your behaviour pattern, who you talked to, if you ate the food or not... If you go into this thing you are going to get caught. And when you do, you will go to prison for a long time. The British have a policy that first offender or not you get at least eight years."
And as if the odds are not already stacked against the courier, the 'boss' doesn't help the situation either.
"The trade is driven by greed. These people will put five couriers on one plane knowing two will get caught they may even set them up. And when they are caught, nobody knows them," Mr. Heaven said.
