Canadians Jailed In Hong Kong On Drug Trafficking Charges Were Recruited As Mules On Instagram: Report

Four Canadians presently beryllium successful Hong Kong jails aft being arrested connected supplier charges — contempt them saying they were duped connected societal media into being supplier mules.

While they each arrived connected abstracted flights and did not cognize 1 another, interviews from situation propose they were each lured by nan aforesaid network. This statement is reportedly led by a “big boss” who uses encrypted apps and goes only by nan grip “DOT,” a CTV News investigation found.

The recruitment process often originates pinch a elemental occupation post. According to nan investigation, a integer roadmap recovered connected a laptop belonging to then-19-year-old Jade from Cambridge, Ontario, exposes nan step-by-step grooming process. Jade believed she had been hired for a morganatic domiciled arsenic an “international package shipper.” The occupation seemed straightforward, requiring only that nan applicant beryllium complete 18, person a cleanable criminal grounds and person a valid passport.

The recruiter, via Instagram, promised a net of $5,000 per travel and told Jade that flight, accommodation and nutrient costs would beryllium covered. There was moreover a $250 referral prize offered for bringing others into nan fold.

But her statement led to her and nan different 3 being arrested, and nan constabulary claiming they had astir 100 kilograms of cocaine successful checked luggage.

The CTV investigation showed nan chats and elaborate really Jade was not an knowledgeable traveler — nan recruiter had to explain that nutrient is complimentary connected world flights.

Despite her deficiency of recreation knowledge, she many times questioned nan information of nan work. When she asked really she could beryllium judge she wouldn't beryllium "kidnapped and enslaved," nan recruiter dismissed her fears.

“I’m 19 myself and would NOT put anyone successful threat for illustration that," nan recruiter’s connection read, claiming he sent his ain "closest homies" and champion friend connected nan aforesaid trips.

Naderia, Jade’s mother, told CTV News that reference these exchanges was "sickening," comparing nan recruiter's actions to "rolling up a snowball and tossing it successful hell."

Another detained Canadian, 21-year-old Omar, besides from southwestern Ontario, told CTV News he had been lured by acquaintances who insisted nan travel would beryllium wholly legal. Once successful nan system, nan recruits followed a rigid protocol. They were flown connected nan aforesaid airline, placed successful nan aforesaid Hong Kong hotel, told to cheque successful each 2 minutes aft landing and directed to usage rate serial numbers arsenic passwords for deliveries.

The request for cocaine among nan able successful Hong Kong drives a marketplace wherever nan supplier costs astir $200 per gram — much than doubly nan value successful Canada. Unless nan arrested Canadians tin beryllium they had nary knowledge of nan 25 kilograms of cocaine recovered successful their possession, they look nan anticipation of life sentences.