21/08/2013

UK Women Officially Charged With Drug Trafficking

Two women suspected of trying to smuggle 11kg of cocaine out of Peru have been officially charged after two weeks in custody.

Melissa Reid from Lenzie near Glasgow and Michaella McCollum, of Dungannon in Northern Ireland, were found to have cocaine with an estimated street value of £1.5m, hidden in their luggage as they tried to board a flight from Peru to Madrid.

The two women, both aged 20, have maintained their innocence since they were arrested, claiming that they were forced to carry the drugs.

They had been kept in holding cells for two weeks in Lima, Peru, before being moved to Callao to appear before a judge yesterday (20 August).

They were officially charged with trafficking drugs and could face up to 15 years in prison. It is understood that the women could also face an extended time in a Peruvian prison while awaiting trial.

(MH/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

17 February 2004
UK sees 20% increase in multiple births over 10 years
Mothers are having 20% more multiple births than they were a decade ago, according to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Statistics have revealed that in 2002, the multiple birth rate was 15 per 1,000 women giving birth, compared with 12.5 in 1992.
25 September 2013
UK Women Plead Guilty To Peru Drug Smuggling
Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle cocaine out of Peru. The two UK women were arrested in August when they were caught with 11kg (24lbs) of cocaine, with an estimated value of £1.5 million. The women, both aged 20, claimed that they were forced into carrying the drugs.
22 August 2013
Two Women Charged With Drug Trafficking Refused Bail
The two British women caught with £1.5m of cocaine have been refused bail. Michaella McCollum Connelly from Dungannon and Melissa Reid from Glasgow, both 20, were remanded in custody by a judge on Wednesday. They have been charged with the promotion of drug trafficking.
17 September 2004
Court imposes lengthy sentences on drug smugglers
Hefty sentences totalling 31.5 years were handed down to one man and two women convicted of drug smuggling charges today at Manchester Crown Court. Rodcliffe Burns Smith, 35, of Rowley Regis was jailed for nine years for cocaine smuggling and two years for cannabis smuggling.
11 March 2004
Scheme launched to reduce population of women in custody
A three-year government programme has been unveiled today which has been designed to tackle women's offending and reduce the number of women in prison.