Erik Audé

Erik Anthony Audé (born April 5, 1980) is an American actor, stuntman and professional poker player who was arrested and imprisoned in Pakistan for drug trafficking. Audé maintains that he was duped into carrying opium, and that he believed he was importing leather goods. This story is featured in an episode of National Geographic Channel's Locked Up Abroad, wherein he plays his own role.

History

Audé was born in Beverly Hills, California. He attended Bethel Christian School in Lancaster, California and played American football there.

In 2002, Audé was persuaded to carry leather samples from Islamabad, Pakistan to the United States by Razmik Minasian (who used the alias Rai Gharizian), an Armenian client at the gymnasium where Audé was employed. Minasian concealed from Audé the fact that the case containing leather skirts and jackets also contained opium. On February 15, 2002, Audé was arrested at Islamabad International Airport after being found, according to Pakistani authorities, with 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds) of opium in the process of embarking on his scheduled flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.