William 'Billy Boy' Eastment, an 80-year-old bowls player from Somerset, is finally returning to the UK after being duped by an international scam that landed him in a Chilean prison. He was arrested at Santiago Airport on May 18 with over 5kg of methamphetamine, worth around £200,000, hidden in his suitcase. The pensioner, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), now faces the challenge of getting home without his wallet, debit card, or bus pass.
How the scam unfolded
Eastment received an email claiming he was entitled to a $10.5 million (£7.85 million) inheritance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The scammers offered to cover his travel expenses in exchange for 10% of the money. He was flown to Cancun, Mexico, where he signed documents, and then to Japan for sightseeing. After returning home empty-handed, he was told to go back to Mexico, where he was handed a suitcase and instructed to take it to New Zealand via Chile. He believed it contained gifts for IMF officials.
Arrest and imprisonment
At Santiago Airport, Eastment could not open the suitcase due to a combination lock. Airport workers forced it open, revealing the drugs. He was arrested and held in Santiago 1 Penitentiary, facing up to 10 years in prison. He considered a plea deal for a three-year sentence but maintained his innocence. His health deteriorated, and he struggled to exercise due to COPD. Fellow inmates shared food with him.
Vindication through digital evidence
Investigators examined Eastment's phone and tablet, finding messages that corroborated his story. A police report concluded there was a high probability he had been scammed. The prosecutor dismissed the case, and Eastment was freed. He said, 'I was overjoyed. I couldn’t say anything. I thought, ‘Oh, they’re dismissing the case. I’m not getting charged.’
Return to the UK
The British Embassy arranged an emergency passport and a loan for his flight. Eastment plans to travel from the airport to Victoria Coach Station, then to Dorchester, and finally 30 miles to his bungalow in Milborne Port. He hopes a friend can collect him but has struggled to make contact. 'When I get in the bungalow, I’m going to make a cup of tea with milk,' he said. 'I got my meal planned, but I don’t know how I’m going to manage that now with no debit card.'
Life after the ordeal
Eastment, a retired heavy goods and bus fitter, now dreams of a simple life: playing bowls, fishing, and enjoying a roast chicken dinner. He has no desire to travel again. 'I’m not going to travel no more,' he said. 'I had a decent life playing bowls and fishing and plenty of friends.' His return is urgent as a relative is terminally ill with lung cancer.
