Khaberni - Juliana Lopez, a Colombian soccer player, model, and presenter talks about her situation in a Chinese prison after being sentenced to 15 years for cocaine trafficking.
In 2015, Lopez traveled to China, unaware that this trip would change her life forever, preventing her return to her home country.
The Colombian amateur soccer club player and her former boyfriend, Juan Esteban Marin, were arrested at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport with 610 grams of cocaine hidden in a computer.
The soccer player and model, Lopez, escaped the death penalty after being sentenced in China.
Why Wasn't Juliana Lopez Sentenced to Death?
Juliana was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and thanks to her good behavior, the 31-year-old could be released in 2026, four years before her sentence ends.
During her years in prison, Lopez tried to adapt to prison life. According to close contacts, she devoted herself to studying and working on various activities, earning her sentence reduction privileges. These developments, alongside her exemplary behavior, are the main reasons she might be granted early release today.
The Colombian escaped a death sentence or life imprisonment in China thanks to a series of messages kept on her mobile phone, which she showed to the authorities. These messages included death threats to her and her family if she did not agree to transport the drugs to China.
Besides, the young woman's family stated that the computer found with the drugs was not owned by Juliana.
"The Situation is Exhausting"
The former soccer player, arrested at the age of 21 and now 31, wrote a letter to her mother in 2021, which was published 4 years later by the Colombian media outlet "La Red".
"My dear mom, I miss you more than anything else in the world. Here people are amazed and tell me that there are many people who love me," wrote Juliana Lopez to Nubia Sarazola, who traveled to China to be near her daughter during her imprisonment.
The former soccer player, who confirmed she had devoted her life to studying and working during the first six years of her imprisonment in China, said: "Whether for better or worse, many people still watch us, but I consider this a blessing from God. The situation here is becoming more exhausting."
Juliana Lopez, who also worked in the manufacturing of fans and dryers in prison, says "the work pressure is intense. Now we have a monthly examination, along with the pressure of studies."
An Uncertain Future
Despite hopes for her possible release, the young woman has no plans to return to Colombia. Reports suggest that she fears possible retaliatory actions in the wake of her arrest circumstances. This increases the uncertainty of her future and her life path.
In 2015, a year before her arrest, Lopez tried to participate in the Miss Antioquia contest, played soccer, and worked as a show host. Her career was on the brink of success, but her arrest in China prematurely ended her professional journey.
Drug Trafficking Penalties in China
In China, drug trafficking is one of the most serious crimes, punishable by very severe penalties. The country applies a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, which is reflected in legislations that prescribe penalties ranging from long imprisonment terms to death, depending on the quantity and type of substance involved.
The Chinese authorities do not distinguish between local citizens and foreigners, as anyone involved in drug trafficking faces severe consequences. For example, trafficking more than 50 grams of heroin or methamphetamine can directly lead to the death penalty. The Chinese judicial system allows for swift trials and deterrent sentences, particularly in drug trafficking cases.
The government has also enhanced surveillance at ports, airports, and borders, and encourages international cooperation to control precursor chemicals used in manufacturing synthetic drugs. This stance is based on a painful historical experience embodied in the Opium Wars, which left a deep imprint on national identity and established a societal rejection of drugs.
