William ‘Billy Boy’ Eastment, a 79-year-old British pensioner with a passion for fishing, now faces the possibility of dying behind bars after being caught with £200,000 worth of methamphetamine at Santiago Airport in Chile.
The pensioner was intercepted by police on May 18, arriving on a flight from Cancun and preparing to travel onward to Sydney, Australia.
Authorities claim Eastment was carrying a suitcase containing 5kg of the class A drug hidden in a secret compartment.
Family Claims Pensioner Was Scammed by Mexican Gang
Relatives have spoken out, insisting that Eastment lost his life savings after being scammed by a Mexican gang who promised him £4,000 to smuggle the suitcase.
His sister described him as once intelligent and top of his class but admitted he had fallen victim to financial scams, including losing £20,000 about four years ago to a woman named Jennifer who asked for money while claiming to be in legal trouble abroad.
Eastment’s sister revealed that he was left in serious financial difficulties, forcing her to lend him money she could barely afford.
Previous Travels and Legal Troubles
She also shared that her brother had spent time in Brazil two years ago, though she was unsure why and suspected it might have been connected to drugs — a trip he ultimately hated.
Despite some past legal troubles, including a court appearance over an assault charge involving his former partner, the sister insisted Eastment is not a bad person but simply loves fishing and bowls.
Detention and Possible Sentencing
Eastment is currently held at Santiago 1 Penitentiary while prosecutors gather evidence.
A judge has allowed his detention for up to 120 days.
If convicted, the pensioner could face up to 15 years in prison, though legal experts believe a plea deal could reduce that to around five years if he cooperates.
Discovery of Drugs and Police Investigation
The drugs were discovered when Eastment’s suitcase was scanned at customs and flagged due to a false bottom containing the methamphetamine.
Police investigations revealed that Eastment received instructions from contacts in Brazil and the US, according to messages found on his phone.
Santiago Airport police chief Sergio Paredes said it was Eastment’s first time entering Chile and noted that the drugs could have been destined either to remain in Chile or be smuggled onward to Australia.
Community Reaction and Broader Context
Neighbors expressed shock, describing Eastment as a simple pensioner who was hardly living lavishly and questioning why he would become involved with drugs.
His arrest adds to a growing number of cases involving British nationals detained abroad on drug charges, though most others have been significantly younger.
Ongoing Investigation and Family Hopes
The police continue to investigate the full circumstances of the case, including whether Eastment was knowingly involved or the victim of a wider scam.
Meanwhile, the family hopes for clarity and justice as they await updates in this troubling case.