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British man held over '£200k of meth' in suitcase

Dawn Limbu
BBC News, West of England
Chile Aduanas Customs A cabin-sized suitcase which has been cut to reveal a secret compartment pictured next to bags of white powder which is methamphetamine. There is a sign by the bags of powder which says 'Evidencia Chile Aduanas Customs'.Chile Aduanas Customs
A British man has been detained in Chile after 5kg of crystal meth was allegedly found in a suitcase with a false bottom

A British man has been arrested in Chile after custom officials claimed to have discovered £200k worth of crystal meth inside his suitcase.

Sources in the South American country have confirmed the man to be William Eastment, from Milborne Port in Somerset.

He had been travelling from Mexico to Chile when, according to Chilean authorities, his suitcase was found to contain more than 5kg (11lbs) of methamphetamine.

In a statement published online, customs officials said they had identified irregularities in one piece of luggage, prompting them to track down the owner.

Rodrigo Díaz, Metropolitan Customs Regional Director, said: "Once the traveller retrieved the suspicious luggage from the airport baggage carousel, it was quickly identified by our officers and moved to the secondary screening area, where the drugs team confirmed the presence of a hidden object."

Chile Aduanas Customs Bags of white powdery substance laid on the floor, with some sort of testing device placed on top of it. Above the photo is a card which says 'Evidencia, Chile Aduanas Customs'.Chile Aduanas Customs
Tests revealed that the powder was methamphetamine hydrochloride

Inside the suitcase, the online statement added, six plastic bags were found containing 5,100 grams (179 oz) of a white substance, later found to be methamphetamine after testing.

Mr Eastment was then handed over to anti-narcotics officers at the airport, and then remanded in custody following an initial court hearing.

A spokesperson from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are aware of a British man detained in Chile and are in contact with his family and the local authorities."

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