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13/08/2013
'Missing' Tyrone Woman On Peru Drug Charges
A video has been released of two women currently accused of smuggling over £1.5m of cocaine in Peru.
The country's police force has released footage recorded shortly after 20-year-old Michaella McCollum Connolly, from Dungannon in County Tyrone, and 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Lenzi near Glasgow, were arrested in Lima.
It is alleged the pair had attempted to smuggle 24lb of the illegal drug from Peru into Spain, where they had been working over the summer.
Miss McCollum Connolly and Miss Reid have been shown answering questions on camera in a video just released by Peruvian police.
Miss Reid is heard to say she was forced to take the bags in her luggage.
She is then asked if she knew the bags contained drugs, whereupon she replies: "I did not know that."
But Major Manuel Siclla, who is leading the investigation, says they already admitted their guilt to him.
"They have admitted it informally to me and officers at the airport who arrested them. They are okay but are obviously worried about their families and what the future holds for them," he said.
The two women were arrested last week trying to board an Air Europa flight from Lima to Madrid, before taking a second plane to their final destination in Majorca.
The pair have confirmed they had travelled to the South American country from Ibiza in Spain, where they had been living and working this summer.
Major Siclla said: "Like anyone else involved in drugs smuggling, they will be tried and face long prison sentences if convicted. We take this problem very seriously in Peru and courts are very strict about enforcing the law."
The news follows a Facebook appeal last week over Miss McCollum Connolly's whereabouts.
Her family said they had not had any contact with her for 12 days and were worried.
It is now thought the two women had been recruited as 'drug mules', with the promise of a holiday to Peru and £8,000 each in cash by drug traffickers in Ibiza.
(IT/CD)
The country's police force has released footage recorded shortly after 20-year-old Michaella McCollum Connolly, from Dungannon in County Tyrone, and 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Lenzi near Glasgow, were arrested in Lima.
It is alleged the pair had attempted to smuggle 24lb of the illegal drug from Peru into Spain, where they had been working over the summer.
Miss McCollum Connolly and Miss Reid have been shown answering questions on camera in a video just released by Peruvian police.
Miss Reid is heard to say she was forced to take the bags in her luggage.
She is then asked if she knew the bags contained drugs, whereupon she replies: "I did not know that."
But Major Manuel Siclla, who is leading the investigation, says they already admitted their guilt to him.
"They have admitted it informally to me and officers at the airport who arrested them. They are okay but are obviously worried about their families and what the future holds for them," he said.
The two women were arrested last week trying to board an Air Europa flight from Lima to Madrid, before taking a second plane to their final destination in Majorca.
The pair have confirmed they had travelled to the South American country from Ibiza in Spain, where they had been living and working this summer.
Major Siclla said: "Like anyone else involved in drugs smuggling, they will be tried and face long prison sentences if convicted. We take this problem very seriously in Peru and courts are very strict about enforcing the law."
The news follows a Facebook appeal last week over Miss McCollum Connolly's whereabouts.
Her family said they had not had any contact with her for 12 days and were worried.
It is now thought the two women had been recruited as 'drug mules', with the promise of a holiday to Peru and £8,000 each in cash by drug traffickers in Ibiza.
(IT/CD)
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22 June 2016
Drug Smuggler Melissa Reid Released From Prison In Peru
A woman from Scotland who was behind bars in Peru has been released and is making her way back to the UK. Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie was arrested with Michaella McCollum from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, after being caught trying to smuggle 11kg of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013. The release process is now complete, according to reports.
Drug Smuggler Melissa Reid Released From Prison In Peru
A woman from Scotland who was behind bars in Peru has been released and is making her way back to the UK. Melissa Reid, 22, from Lenzie was arrested with Michaella McCollum from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, after being caught trying to smuggle 11kg of cocaine at Lima airport in 2013. The release process is now complete, according to reports.
15 August 2013
Michaella McCollum's Solicitor Flies To Peru
The solicitor of Michaella McCollum, a 20-year-old Dungannon woman currently being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking, is to fly to Lima to advise her. The 20-year-old County Tyrone native was arrested last week at Jorge Chavez International Airport as she tried to board a flight to Madrid with 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Scotland.
Michaella McCollum's Solicitor Flies To Peru
The solicitor of Michaella McCollum, a 20-year-old Dungannon woman currently being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking, is to fly to Lima to advise her. The 20-year-old County Tyrone native was arrested last week at Jorge Chavez International Airport as she tried to board a flight to Madrid with 19-year-old Melissa Reid, from Scotland.
06 August 2014
Michaella McCollum Returns To NI
Two women convicted of drug smuggling in Peru last summer are to return home to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK.
Michaella McCollum Returns To NI
Two women convicted of drug smuggling in Peru last summer are to return home to serve the remainder of their sentences in the UK.
18 December 2013
'Peru Two' Sentenced
Two women arrested in Peru on suspicion of drug smuggling have been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone and Melissa Reid from near Glasgow in Scotland will serve their sentences in Peru.
'Peru Two' Sentenced
Two women arrested in Peru on suspicion of drug smuggling have been sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone and Melissa Reid from near Glasgow in Scotland will serve their sentences in Peru.
01 March 2017
New Ad Campaign Launched To Encourage Reporting Of Drug Dealing
A major ad campaign has been launched urging the public to report drug dealing to Crimstoppers. The campaign, which will feature viral videos alongside bus, adshel, online and radio advertising, aims to highlight the damage drugs do to individuals, families and communities.
New Ad Campaign Launched To Encourage Reporting Of Drug Dealing
A major ad campaign has been launched urging the public to report drug dealing to Crimstoppers. The campaign, which will feature viral videos alongside bus, adshel, online and radio advertising, aims to highlight the damage drugs do to individuals, families and communities.
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