“Later that night he texted me. He said I should meet him the following morning before I leave for Gauteng. I met him the following morning and he told me he had been thinking of selling me some of his fabrics on a great discount, but I’d pay him when things were blooming. This was like a dream come true. But my spirit couldn’t get off the idea of what he would want in return.

“He told he can only manage to sort the fabrics later that day. He heard a meeting to attend to during the day, so I decided to leave on the 13th of April. He came to the hotel that night, with a very expensive luggage bag. He told me that every fabric I’ll ever need was in the luggage and I should take care of it because he’d need it back.

I was all happy when he left. Then he came back with documents that he wanted me to give to his friend as soon as I landed. He gave strict instruction not to unpack the back till I arrived at home. He claimed he had hired a professional to pack so that everything could fit in very well.

“I took his instructions and the contact numbers of the guy. The next morning, I got up very early, went out for a jog then ordered breakfast downstairs. I took the documents he gave me to see what other business was he into. The documents were property documents and I just thought it might be his second hustle. By that time, I had already booked a plane and it was time to leave the hotel.

“In the airplane, my eyes couldn’t get off the luggage. There was something strange at the airport. All my bags were searched and this was put aside. I never got suspicious during the time. As I landed at OR Tambo I saw a guy already waiting for me and taking to the security. Before I knew it, the guy was gone and the police approached me and told me I was arrested. My luxurious luggage was found with drugs of a street value of 1.5 million. It did not make sense for a moment. I thought I had the wrong luggage.”

Sergeant Mahlatsi could feel Christina’s pain and he somehow believed her. But he couldn’t do anything till further investigations were made. Sabelo Mdeni was nowhere to be found in the country. Christina was sentenced to fifteen years behind bars and was promised to be released as soon as Sabelo was found.

***

Tell us what you think: Do you know of women like Christina, being used to smuggle drugs without their knowledge? Should the law be more lenient on them?