Auckland Court Jails Romance-Scam Victim Caught Smuggling Meth at Airport

A 60-year-old American woman, Venancia Yolanda Ramirez, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for smuggling methamphetamine into New Zealand. The case has sparked widespread concern about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by sophisticated online romance and inheritance scams.

From Heartbreak to Criminality

Ramirez’s journey into the world of drug smuggling began with personal tragedy. Following a difficult divorce and a violent relationship that ended with the death of her partner in a petrol station toilet, she became an easy target for an elaborate online scam.

Scammers crafted a convincing narrative, claiming that a woman had died and left Ramirez a $7 million inheritance. They provided forged documents, including a death certificate, will, and banking papers, and even created a fabricated character, Mr. Jones Chow, to build trust with Ramirez.

By May 2024, Ramirez had marked 'Jones’ birthday' in her phone's calendar and was convinced to travel to Los Angeles to meet Chow, then to Japan to retrieve her supposed inheritance. Upon arriving in Japan, she carried a suitcase filled with white clothing, which she claimed were for sleeping.

Smuggling Meth in a Suitcase

Later, Ramirez wrote in her diary that 'Jones arrived in New Zealand' on January 6, 2025. When she arrived at Auckland International Airport on January 2, 2025, she declared that she knew the contents of her baggage and was not carrying goods for anyone else.

However, customs officers discovered nine stiff, white clothing items in her luggage that tested positive for methamphetamine. The clothing had been soaked in liquid meth and dried, with an estimated weight of at least 1.1kg.

Ramirez admitted to smuggling the drugs but claimed she was unaware of the contents until the search. The court heard that the scam was unusually sophisticated, with detailed documentation and a carefully constructed narrative.

A Growing Trend of Exploitation

Judge Janey Forrest noted that this was the third such case she had overseen in recent weeks, highlighting a disturbing trend of vulnerable individuals being exploited in overseas romance scams.

Crown prosecutor Jamie Eng argued for a four-year starting sentence due to Ramirez's lies about her luggage, while defense lawyer Devon Kemp pointed out that Ramirez had no prior criminal record and no evidence she smuggled drugs into Japan.

The judge reduced the sentence to 23 months, citing Ramirez's remorse, rehabilitation efforts, and participation in faith-based prison programs. However, she ruled against a non-custodial sentence, noting the challenges of serving time in a foreign country without family support.

Consequences and Concerns

Ramirez is expected to be released on parole after serving 10 months, with deportation following her release. The case underscores the alarming rise in international online scams, where fraudsters use emotional manipulation and fabricated identities to deceive victims into participating in illegal activities.

Authorities are urging the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. As this case demonstrates, the consequences of falling victim to such scams can extend far beyond financial loss, with individuals being drawn into criminal enterprises without their knowledge.