Kochi: The cake was ready. The candles were lit. But for little Doretta of Ernakulam’s Kumbalangi, the most crucial part of her father's birthday celebrations was missing. Every year on August 7, Doretta would wait for her father, Disny D Joseph (42), a native of Kumbalangi and a truck driver in Slovakia, to appear on a video call so they could celebrate together. She would blow out the candles as her dad watched her from across thousands of miles. But this year, the call never came from her father.

From a jail cell in France’s Marseille, where he is lodged now, Joseph had made a heartbreaking plea to his wife, Riya, just days before his birthday. He asked her to place his photograph beside the cake, a small gesture to make their daughter feel he was still with her. His crime? Driving a truck across Europe, unaware that a massive consignment of drugs was hidden inside his cargo—a nightmare that has shattered his family’s life and dreams. 

“During the brief weekly call from the jail, Ichayan told me 'Make sure you cut the cake… keep my photo beside it. Don’t let Doretta feel I wasn’t there.' Because he is stuck in a foreign jail, and he is emotionally weak. He fears he may never see us again. I did as he told me, but it didn’t ease either mine or Doretta’s pain. We just want him to come home," Riya told Onmanorma in a trembling voice. 

For the last 5 years, Joseph had been working in Slovakia, traversing long distances to provide for his family. But things took a turn for the worse during his journey from Spain to Italy on June 14, 2024, along with his co-driver and friend, Antony Shaji — who also hails from Kumbalangi. Near Frejus in France, police intercepted their truck and seized 147 kg of cocaine from the cargo. Both Joseph and Shaji pleaded with the cops that they had no knowledge of the drugs, but they were arrested and have been in a Marseille jail for over a year. Their families have since been seeking help from everyone - MPs to ministers to help bring them back home.

Joseph moved to Slovakia in 2019 as a truck driver with the hope of a better life after working in Mozambique and Saudi Arabia as a crane operator. In 2022, he joined Yaras Air Cargo Transport in Slovakia’s Trnava and has been trucking across Europe. Everything was going as planned, and during his last visit to Kumbalangi, he told Riya he would apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Slovakia so that they could all be together finally. After returning, he even convinced his friend Shaji, who was working in Slovakia, to join his company for better prospects. 

“It was Shaji's first day and first trip with the new company when they were arrested by the police,” said Lincy, Shaji’s wife. “Shaji was driving, and they thought it was a routine inspection. They showed all the required documents, but the police acted as if they had a clear tip-off about the drugs and ordered them to open the cargo. The cargo was loaded and sealed by the company’s staff; Joseph and Shaji had no idea what was inside. When they explained that company policy forbade them from opening it, the police broke open the container and found the drugs wrapped inside date packets in four boxes.” 

When the families didn't hear from the men for a few days, they grew anxious. Their calls to co-workers yielded no answers. Finally, they reached their boss, Rachid Benali, a Moroccan who reportedly owned the company. 

"Benali told us the truck’s GPS signal was lost in a mountainous forest road in France and that he was searching for them," Riya said. "We initially feared they had an accident. But a few days later, we discovered Benali was lying after I received an email from the French police about the arrest. Soon after, we learned their boss had gone into hiding and reportedly fled to the Middle East. Joseph’s lawyer says until they catch him, their release won’t be easy." 

According to Hibi Eden, MP, who has been in constant touch with the Indian embassy in France and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the investigation in the case is ongoing. “We have been following up constantly, but the case is complicated due to the quantity of drugs seized,” Eden said. 

The ordeal is taking a toll on both men's health. Riya said Joseph has started receiving psychiatric consultation in jail due to severe mental stress. Shaji, who suffers from asthma, was recently hospitalised for over a week after he experienced breathing difficulties. “He says he can't sleep and is taking a lot of sleeping pills. He went abroad so we could finally build our own house. Now, we have lost everything, and I have started working for a food catering company to make ends meet,” Lincy said. 

Susan, Joseph’s mother and president of Kumbalangi Panchayat, shared her pain. "Though my son is a strong person, being in jail for a crime he didn’t commit is affecting him mentally. When he calls, he says he gets food and a decent place to sleep, but he misses his family and freedom. We are trying everything possible to bring him back, but nothing has worked so far. We just request the government to help us," she said.