My Brief Expose
I have had a wonderful 30 plus years of retirement in Canada.
When I first arrived, I was constantly aware that my past involvement with the secret service could catch up with me. Even taking into account the statute of limitations
Fortunately, it didn't happen.
During the war it was all military and the penalty for spying, death by firing squad. Even though I sat before a Military tribunal and found not guilty, I was still contacted.
After the war during my 20 years in Australia they knew that my Achilles heel was the avid interest I had in electronics technology, which served their purpose well. As time went by, they appointed me as a non paid Agent which gave me some latitude in discussions and remove the threats to comply when they had an assignment which required the designing and developing of specialized equipment. that was not available to them on the market and also be there when the information was being gathered ,which often resulted in trauma.
To put things into context the intervals between assignments were never regular. Sometimes months or more apart. So plenty of time to recover and conduct a normal day to day life
I searched the internet to find if there were others that had also been literally blackmailed by government entities (secret services etc. unfortunately run by people some of whom were prone to break the rules).
I found two examples here in Canada.
Story 1
A Canadian manufacturers agent, had occasion to do business in the USA involving high profile clients and he would regularly cross and return via the border at Sarnia.
He always carried a suit case for his change of clothing etc. and an attaché case for business papers.
On this occasion he was returning to Canada and passing through US Customs and Excise.
After getting through the checkpoint with his attaché case he couldn't find his suitcase. He was taken to a room. It was on a table and they had it open. " What are you doing with my suitcase" The man standing next to it reached inside and produced a plastic bag. "You have been trafficking drugs across the border"
He was completely shocked "no way"
The accusations came thick and fast, and he kept denying.
More threats
If you are charged and convicted it will mean a 5-year prison sentence.
He kept denying and when things eventually seemed to have reached an impasse.
There is another way.
When you visit very influential clients in the US if you bring back information for us, we can waver the charge.
That would be illegal so no. I'll call my lawyer so that he can be here If you are going to charge me
No but you will be hearing from us.
It took over a year to get his case annulled.
Story 2
At another border crossing this time at the other end of Canada at Cornwall, a young man was confronted with the same issue, and he accepted. Apparently as time went by, the information he was bringing back, became more and more useless. After about 3 years the whole situation petered out. The question remains. Did he purposely orchestrate it, if so, it was a cunning and effective counter strategy?
In conclusion, now that I am in my mid nineties, I say to all the people that gave me both physical and mental trauma over the years and have since long gone.
" It was a good try but you failed" my body is still functioning albeit limited, but my mind is completely at rest.
Now that you are "down there", I hope you are getting the same treatment that you gave me, so you know what it feels like.
To all the good people "up there" Thanks a million.