Drug mules travelling with children??????

[Lambada]

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[Matilda]

Originally Posted by laurajane

I agree with Matilda on many counts. I of course do not condone drug smuggling however as i am local to the both of the accused brits i am planning to visit the woman tomorrow. I would like to offer my home to the children at least until the children can return to the U.K however i believe this could take months. I do not think this is possible, however i will offer to help in any way possible with regards to the children.

These two people are beyond stupid, however it seems they will get more than what they deserve being in prison here for the next god knows how many years. I will take a few essentials to her and maybe i can help translate the severity of her problem to her and maybe contact family members on her behalf. I am not a nosey do gooder and don't thrive on drama and like a quiet life but i feel that i can at least offer to help as far as the children are concerned.

Poor kids!

Great stuff LJ. Whatever people have done a dominican jail cannot be fun. Good on you dork.

mattie

[Lambada]

Yes well done LauraJane; individuals volunteering always work well. If they turn out to be guilty (the adults that is) steel yourself against manipulation and the most amazing set of 'excuses'......................if they are addicts they will be experienced at this. If they are innocent they will probably just be shell shocked.

[laurajane]

Well i will see what i can do and let you know. My biggest concern is what happens to two beautiful, blond children in a dominican orphanage. And even if they are lucky enough to have truly caring individuals looking after them, the language barrier and trauma would be enough to terrify any child and most adults i would have thought.

I will try and put together some kind of wash bag for her etc, And i will find out even if the children are going to be at the mercy of the authorities if maybe some of us dr1ers could put together some clothes and toys for them, as i am sure all the luggage was seized and they have nothing.

Anyway, will do my best!

[shellygirl327]

LJ - Keep me posted on your visit tomorrow and let me know if we can help. Mr. SG is worried about the kids also and would like to help them as well and you know they are welcome here as well if something can be arranged. Hopefully this woman has been in touch with a lawyer and is working on getting her children home to a safe place.

Let me know if you need me to talk to the Fiscal to see if I can get any info. As you know, under very unpleasant circumstances I have become very friendly with him and know almost all of them over there.

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by laurajane

And i will find out even if the children are going to be at the mercy of the authorities if maybe some of us dr1ers could put together some clothes and toys for them, as i am sure all the luggage was seized and they have nothing.

I think a focus on the children is right and would be understood by everyone. You won't know until you get there whether the parents are guilty or not - what I mean is you'll get a hunch as to whether you think they are guilty or not (the Court finding could be a different matter entirely!). My personal advice would be to avoid getting hooked into the legal side of the case - lawyers, Fiscals etc. This is the Embassy's job - to recommend a lawyer - & they should do that. Laurajane, you don't want to find yourself put in the position of go-between between accused & lawyer & Embassy. Since it is a drug case it could rub off on your reputation in the area which I'm sure is currently spotless. What you don't want is the local mule organisers thinking you're a friend of the accused & coming to ask you if you've got any more 'friends'.................if you follow my drift.

If these people & their 4 kilos were the 'sacrificial lambs' to allow another 20 kilos to go through undetected, then there might be interests around which won't want that discovered. This is pure speculation but it IS possible; the important thing is to take every step to protect yourself.

Your best bet by far is to focus on the children & to work collaboratively with the Embassy & get either Ian or Vyanella's approval. This will act as a protection against 'misinterpretation' .

And only come back & tell us what is appropriate - a lot won't be at this stage of the judicial process (if you read the thread from 4 years ago you'll know we had to remain silent for a lot of the time).

I hope this doesn't sound like teaching you to suck eggs ; it isn't meant to be, just passing on what I learned on the prison visiting lark, sometimes through trial & error!

[rubio_higuey]

Laurajane - the women's prison is in La Malena - there you can get info if she is still there or if they were sent to Santo Domingo (timeline not probable though). They may also be at DNCD (in front of park) but most likely the guy is in the main jail (two blocks from basilica) and the woman in La Malena.

PM me your cell, I will PM you mine. Precautions need to be taken when you go there, so as not to be connected to the "case".

[Lambada]

Originally Posted by rubio_higuey

Precautions need to be taken when you go there, so as not to be connected to the "case".

You put it so much more succinctly, rubio_higuey, but I couldn't agree more. It's a serious business visiting prisons here, with a lot of ramifications. I wouldn't put anyone off BUT you need to know what you're doing.

[Chirimoya]

Laurajane, if you need some clothes for the kids I can help with some for with the 7-year old (my son is 8). Let me know.

[A.Hidalgo]

Its specially sad for the kids but this is what the parents are facing.....

CHAPTER V OFFENCES AND PUNISHMENTS

Article 59.

A person who brings controlled drugs onto the national territory or removes them from it in international traffic destined for other countries will be punished by imprisonment of five (5) to twenty (20) years, and with a fine of at least two hundred and fifty thousand pesos (RD$250,000).

But most likely....

Article 60.

When two or more persons associate together for the purpose of committing offences defined in and sanctioned by this Law, each of them shall be punished on this ground alone by a term of imprisonment from three (3) to ten (10) years, and a fine of from ten thousand (RD$10,000) to fifty thousand pesos (RD$50,000).

PARAGRAPH:

The promoters, leaders or managers of the illicit association shall be punished by twice the term of imprisonment or amount of the fine laid down in this article.

LAW No. 50-88 [OF 30 MAY 1988] ON DRUGS A