BRITISH scientist arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Argentina says he is the victim of a honey trap
BRITISH scientist arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Argentina says he is the victim of a honey trap after being duped into believing he was starting a new life with a stunning Czech glamour model.
Cops in Buenos Aires arrested Professor Paul Frampton after it was alleged that two kilos of cocaine were found in a suitcase he was carrying.
But the Oxford University graduate said he believed the bag was owned by Denise Milani - an underwear model.
Professor Frampton says he believes the mafia tricked him into carrying the drugs by posing as Miss Milani on an online dating site.
There is no suggestion the model had any involvement in the drugs smuggling plot - or knew the mafia was allegedly using her identity.
The 68-year-old professor said he had been exchanging messages with someone he thought was the model - who won the Miss Bikini World title in 2007 - on a dating website.
Professor Frampton agreed to meet his online 'girlfriend' in Bolivia before flying back to the US to start a new life with her.
But when no one turned up after ten days he claims he was persuaded to travel to Argentina to catch up with her there instead.
Despite being stood up a second time, the professor - who was teaching at North Carolina University - says he agreed to carry a case he was told belonged to the model to Brussels.
He was then arrested days later and has languished in jail for six months.
The divorcee, who is described as “naïve” by his ex-wife, said: “Perhaps I should have realised earlier but the fraudster was very good and very intelligent.
“I never thought these sorts of people existed. For 11 weeks I thought I was chatting with an attractive woman.”
The professor, originally from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, claims he was given the suitcase at a hotel in Buenos Aires by a Hispanic-looking middle-aged man who told him it belonged to the 32-year-old model.
He told an Argentine newspaper he planned to take the case to Brussels for a new meeting with his “girlfriend” but changed his mind and was arrested as he tried to board a plane to Peru.
Professor Frampton, who is suffering from lung problems and is being held at Villa Devoto Prison in Buenos Aires, added: “The person I thought was this woman told me she liked older men and was tired of doing photo sessions. I fell for the story.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment