My brutal family shot rivals & blew up judges in Mafia's most infamous massacre…I'd be dead if I hadn't fled to UK at 12
HIS family tree is a rogues' gallery of hitmen, murderers and extortionists and were even behind the infamous bombings that killed two Sicilian judges and eight police officers in 1992.
And at 12 years old, Riccardo di Cascia Burzotta was being lured into the dangerous underworld of the mafioso.
15
Riccardo di Burzotta escaped the clutches of the Sicilian mafia
Credit: Supplied
15
The Capaci massacre, in 1992, which killed prominent judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three guards
Credit: EPA
15
Magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were murdered in the massacres
Credit: Getty
In his native
But in a brave move which 'saved his life', his parents fled the Italian island for the UK - starting a new life in Southend on Sea in Essex.
'Before they were even in their teens my cousins were burning down shops to send messages to people who didn't pay their protection money," Riccardo tells The Sun.
"If we stayed living in Sicily I would have joined them because I didn't really understand how dangerous it was and I didn't know any better.
READ MORE FEATURES
'I was born into that life which meant I had little choice but to join the Mafia.
'When I was a kid it was normal for everyone to keep guns in the house for self protection.
'There wasn't much work around, most kids tended to drop out of school early and get caught up in crime.
'My parents feared I'd be drawn to the money and power."
Most read in The Sun
Riccardo's parents set up a restaurant business in Southend and he says coming to the UK was "a huge shock.'
'I didn't speak a word of English but suddenly I found myself in an all boys' school in Essex having to eat something disgusting called custard. I could not believe how bad the food was," he says.
Italian police arrest Settimo Mineo, the mafia's new 'boss of bosses' in Sicily
'There was a lot of racism towards foreigners back then and I was called every name under the sun and beaten up in the playground almost daily.
'But if I had stayed in Sicily it would have been worse. I'm certain I would have ended up in prison - or dead.
"The Mafia is an ugly cancer that destroys families. We needed to get well away before I ended up in prison myself.
'My parents' decision to start a new life in another country saved my life, without any doubt.'
15
Riccardo is from a family linked to murders, terrorism, arson, extortion and corruption
Credit: supplied
15
Riccardo landed work in an Italian restaurant in Essex
Credit: supplied
Deadly family
Riccardo has cousins serving time for murders, while other members of his close family have been involved in kidnapping and extortion.
Some were also tangled up even the Capaci massacre - a violent terrorist attack in which mafiosi detonated a car bomb that killed the anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three police guards in 1992.
It was one of the most terrifying attacks ever executed by the Mafia and the international outrage it sparked marked a crucial turning point in the fight against organised crime in Italy.
But, two months later, it was followed by the Via D'Amelio massacre in Palermo, killing a second judge, Paulo Borsellino, and five bodyguards.
The murdered prosecutors had been at the forefront of a crackdown in organised crime in Sicily which led to the notorious Maxi Trial, which ran for six years and saw 19 life sentences handed to crime bosses and a further 338 members of the mob sentenced to a total of 2,665 years.
Salvatore 'Toto' Riina - known as 'the Boss of Bosses' - was sentenced to two life sentences in absentia and ordered the assassination of the judges in retribution. He was captured and jailed in 1993 after 23 years as a fugitive.
15
Judge Giovanni Falcone died in the car bomb
Credit: Getty
15
Borsellino and five guards died in the second attack
Credit: Alamy
15
Sicilian Mafia boss Toto Riina was known as The Beast and The Boss of Bosses
Credit: Reuters
Riccardo's family also fell foul of Sicily's anti-Mafia crackdown.
In 2016, authorities seized over €4 million in assets from Giuseppe Burzotta and his family, including a sitting councillor.
But the murders continued.
In 2017 Guiseppe Marciano, a known associate of Riccardo's family, was shot in the head.
Killers ambushed him in a Fiat Uno and although the car was burnt to destroy any evidence, Marciano's father in law Pino Burzotta - Riccardo's second cousin - was later arrested.
If I had stayed in Sicily it would have been worse. I'm certain I would have ended up in prison - or dead.
Riccardo di Burzotta
Pino's brother Diego Burzotta, a notorious hitman, was already serving a life sentence for the double murder of Giovanni Ingoglia and Salvatore Guccione, killed between 1982 and 1987.
He was also sentenced to nine years for Mafia association and for attacking vice commissioner Rino Germanà, who escaped death after a daring chase by the clan's hitmen in 1992.
Another cousin, Luca Burzotta, was convicted of Mafia association and Pietro, was acquitted of a similar charge due to contradictory testimony from witnesses.
Now a father of four himself, Riccardo has no contact with his Sicilian clan but has revealed the truth about his family's dark past to his own children.
'They were shocked when I told them about my childhood," he says.
'We go back to Sicily for holidays but I never speak to my cousins.
"I nod if I see them in the street but that's as far as it goes.
15
Riccardo returns to Sicily but avoids many of his relatives
Credit: supplied
15
Any contact with Riccardo's relatives could mean a prison sentence
Credit: Supplied
'We've all been warned to stay away from them - any contact could mean an automatic prison sentence.
"Many of my cousins have been involved in gambling rackets and extortion, meaning any shops or business that didn't pay them protection money would go up in flames.
'It's too risky to associate with them.
It's too risky to associate with my family,
Ricardo di Burzotta
"I hear about more arrests every day - members of my family and old friends I went to school with, it is beyond me how far they were willing to go.
'I plan to keep my own kids well away from it but I don't hide anything from them.
'They understand their heritage and it's important to teach them the value of who they are but I want them to keep on a straight path and understand that not all Sicilians are mafioso.'
15
As a teenager Riccardo was on the verge of a life of crime
Credit: supplied
15
His life in Southend on Sea is free from the stigma of his surname
Credit: supplied
Food for thought
Riccardo's move to the UK, at the age of 12, allowed him to forge his own path away from crime.
Although he hated the British weather and could not stand the food, Riccardo kept his head down, stayed out of trouble and did well at school.
He helped out in his parents' Italian restaurant in Southend, learnt to speak fluent English and Spanish, excelled at Maths and History, and landed a job in a City stockbroking firm.
He said: 'That was like winning the lottery, a real eye opener.
'I was earning great money, travelling the world and loving the fast lifestyle.'
Now 48, Riccardo remains on a mission to distance himself from the stigma of his surname.
He has retired from finance and is focusing on encouraging entrepreneurial young Sicilians to choose a career in food.
15
Now Riccardo wants to focus on helping entrepreneurs
Credit: Supplied
15
A father of four, he wants the next generation to follow a new path
Credit: Supplied
He says: 'My family's name is a burden, but it's also a responsibility. I want to show that we can choose a different path.
'We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's
'Change starts at the table. If we can break bread together, we can break the cycle.'
Although police are working to dismantle Mafia control in Sicily, investigators warn that intimidation and corruption persist.
And the statistics are daunting.
Mafia activity has cost Sicily billions in lost economic potential.
We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's future
Ricardo di Burzotta
Anti-Mafia organisations estimate that extortion and racketeering have siphoned off up to two per cent of Sicily's GDP each year.
In just one 2018 crackdown, police arrested 58 people from 16 Mafia families, seizing €11 million in assets.
The Mafia's stranglehold has deterred investors, stifled innovation, and driven away the island's brightest young minds.
Youth unemployment in Sicily stands at a staggering 37 per cent, nearly double the Italian national average.
Every year, tens of thousands of young Sicilians leave in search of opportunity, draining the island of talent and hope.
A new generation
Riccardo believes the antidote to this malaise is teaching entrepreneurial young Sicilians to cook, run businesses, and celebrate their heritage.
He hopes to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs through his campaign, Mobster Munch, which aims to munch away Sicily's mobster past and dish out a future built on celebrating food and family.
He was inspired to help Sicily's youth by his own grandmother who, amid the violence and secrecy, preserved traditional culinary skills.
Although she was a matriarch to mobsters, Leone Malda Burzotta also taught Riccardo how to cook her original Sicilian recipes.
'Sicily's youth deserve to inherit the recipes, the laughter, and the hope my grandmother gave me," added Riccardo.
'Food brings people together. Family gives us strength.
'We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's future.'
As part of his campaign he will host pop-up feasts, cooking classes, and food festivals across Sicily and the UK.
The message is simple but powerful - every bite is a step away from the Mafia's grip, and a step towards a future built on honest work where crime once ruled.
15
Riccardo's parents feared he would be drawn into a life of crime
Credit: Collect
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I watched pitiful Soham killer Ian Huntley sob like a baby after going undercover in jail… how his arrogant mask slipped
WHITE as a ghost, overweight and sobbing uncontrollably, this was a side of Ian Huntley the cocky child killer never wanted anyone to see. And as David McGee wheeled the Advertisement 11 Soham killer Ian Huntley was convicted of double murder in 2003 Credit: PA:Press Association 11 Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both 10, were murdered by the monster 11 Huntley's girlfriend Maxine Carr was convicted of perverting the course of justice Credit: Reuters 11 Huntley was held at Woodhill prison while awaiting trial Credit: The Times As part of a shocking investigation into the lax security of Britain's jails, the former investigative reporter had landed a job as an officer at Advertisement At the time the all-male Category A jail in Buckinghamshire held 650 prisoners. It had housed hostage taker Charles Bronson, And just two weeks into his new role, David found himself left in sole charge of one of Britain's most notorious killers. The previous year, former school caretaker Huntley had Languishing in a Woodhill prison cell awaiting his trial for double murder at the Old Bailey, the brute was on suicide watch and needed to be monitored round the clock. Advertisement Incredibly, that duty fell to David, who grew to know Huntley's "arrogant" and "slimy" character first-hand over a number of intimate encounters. Now, as part of The Sun's new true crime series, Meeting a Monster, which sees those who have met the UK's most infamous criminals reveal their darkest secrets, the former journalist recalls their incredible meetings. One occasion still sticks vividly in his mind: when he was tasked with escorting the killer to a visit with his distraught parents, Kevin and Linda, which saw his egotistical mask well and truly slip. Having driven Huntley to and from the visitors' suite in a golf buggy, David recalls him sobbing hysterically after the dramatic reunion. Soham killer Ian Huntley makes chilling comment during interview with Maxine Carr which helps snare him in Channel 5 thriller Maxine He tells The Sun: 'I was in the room while he spoke with his parents, and although I was not close enough to hear what they were saying, it was clear his parents were very upset too. Advertisement 'By the time they left they were absolutely wrecked. I put my hand on Huntley's shoulder to steer him back to the buggy. "It was only a distance of about 100 yards back to his cell but I was told he had to be driven both ways. 'He was bawling his eyes out, the meeting had clearly been deeply traumatising for him. "Afterwards it took him quite a while to settle down. It was an astonishing day.' Chilling first meeting Using his real name and passport, which clearly stated he was a journalist, David incredibly still landed the job at Woodhill and worked there undercover for four months. Advertisement When asked for references, he named his wife and mother - but nobody bothered to check. After some rudimentary training, in the spring of 2003, he was able to smuggle in a digital camera - which he concealed inside a personal organiser. His role involved guarding prisoners and ferrying them to and from court. He had access to keys for handcuffs, cell doors and the escape hatch in prison vans - meaning he could have freed inmates, passed drugs or weapons to them or even attacked them. 11 Huntley and Carr joined the hunt for Holly and Jessica in a brazen bid to cover their tracks Credit: BBC Advertisement 11 They were tried at the Old Bailey Credit: Sian Francis More than two decades later, David can still remember the moment he first came face-to-face with Huntley, known behind bars as Prisoner JG5778. Left alone with the Soham killer, David snapped a photograph of him slumped in his cell. They spent hours chatting together about football, running, and playing games of chess through the bars of his cell. 'I was shocked and amazed,' said David. 'I remember the day very clearly. I had just a fortnight's experience as a fully fledged warder and here I was doing one of the most vital jobs in the prison. Advertisement 'When I first saw Huntley in the Health Care Centre where he was based my mouth went dry. 'I could see he was alone at the end of the corridor, his cell was at the end of a row of three and the others were kept empty. 'Huntley and his watcher were doing a crossword. I heard my colleague say a clue out loud: 'It's five letters and ends in stem.' Huntley was bawling his eyes out, the meeting had clearly been deeply traumatising for him David McGee 'I suggested 'brain' and it turned out to be right. I heard Huntley say from his cell: 'He's smart isn't he?' 'He seemed pale, overweight and had bags under his eyes. He was wearing a burgundy sweatshirt, trousers and a pair of trainers. Advertisement 'I said: 'Hello, how are you doing?' In a soft quiet voice he simply answered: 'All right.' 'We talked about soccer and when he rolled up a cigarette I cadged one off him, which is against prison rules. 'I was involved in a number of conversations with Huntley covering a wide variety of subjects." He adds: "We were close enough to share a chess board, our hands touched as we moved the pieces and I looked closely into his eyes. "That was chilling." Advertisement 11 Huntley was quizzed by cops after Holly and Jessica went missing Credit: Mirrorpix 11 A police officer stands watch outside Huntley's home during a search Credit: Alamy Guarding Huntley was a popular duty at the jail as warders would get overtime, called Extra Gratuity Payments. Later, on May 7, David found himself guarding the killer alone again, this time for five hours. He said: 'Even though I was a raw rookie, I was on a rota to mind him after I was allowed to place my name on the overtime list of warders needed to man his round the clock suicide watch. Advertisement "He asked me lots of questions and was actively engaged in conversation. I think he liked me and wanted me to like him. "He wanted to know about my partner, and said he preferred blonde women. He was deluded. I found him quite slimy and I'm sure he believed he would get away with his vile crimes "He was really interested in the fact that I had recently run the London marathon, and said he was very impressed with the time I finished it in. 'I had to bat away his questions because I'd been trained not to engage with the prisoners, but that did not seem to stop him. 'He never mentioned anything about the crimes he was accused of. Advertisement "It was clear he was trying to be matey because that would have served him well, although there were other moments when he was tetchy and prickly but fortunately there were bars between us.' Prisoner perks Huntley's cell was painted pale yellow and was adorned with cards sent from his fiancée Each week he would buy two pouches of Golden Virginia tobacco, Rizla cigarette papers, matches, Rich Tea biscuits and UHT milk. Outside the cell was a TV screen with a Playstation on top of it, and the wires to the handheld console were passed through the bars so Huntley could play video games. He was holed up next to the prison gym and would occasionally ask to use the rowing machine. Advertisement Looking back on the extraordinary time they spent together, David adds: "I definitely got a sense of his arrogance, he thought he was smarter than everyone else. 'At that time, before his trial, he had not admitted his involvement in killing the girls or shown any remorse. "He was deluded. I found him quite slimy and I'm sure he believed he would get away with his vile crimes. 11 Huntley was on 24 hour suicide watch as he awaited trial Credit: PA:Press Association 11 The spot where the schoolgirls' bodies were found near Lakenheath, Suffolk Advertisement 11 The boot of Huntley's red Ford Fiesta that he used to transport the bodies Credit: Reuters "He struck me as incredibly manipulative, and I could see how he would be able to intellectually dominate young children or someone he perceived to be intellectually inferior or impressionable - like his partner Maxine. Clearly she was not the brightest spark. 'All I could do was listen to him, and he was more than happy to talk to me. 'Of course I would have loved to ask him questions but I was not there for that, I was only there as a consequence of the poor security." When the photograph David had taken of Huntley in his cell was published, the scandal sparked a Home Office investigation into the shambolic security at the prison. Advertisement Prison industry groups said underfunding and staff shortages could have led to the apparent security blunder. David faced two charges under the 1952 Prisons Act in relation to the digital camera he had used, which flouted a rule prohibiting the taking in of items to the prison without authorisation. But he was later cleared when Milton Keynes Magistrates Court dismissed the case against him and all charges were dropped. Who are the UK's worst serial killers? THE UK's most prolific serial killer was actually a doctor. Here's a rundown of the worst offenders in the UK. After his death Jonathan Balls was accused of poisoning at least 22 people between 1824 and 1845. Amelia Sach and Annie Walters became known as the Finchley Baby Farmers after killing at least 20 babies between 1900 and 1902. The pair became the first women to be hanged at Holloway Prison on February 3, 1903. William Burke and William Hare killed 16 people and sold their bodies.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Man and woman mauled by ‘Bully-type dog' in horror attack at home as cops seize three pets
A MAN and a woman were mauled by a "Bully-type dog" in a horror attack at a home — with police confirming they have seized three dogs from the scene. The man, in his 30s, and the woman, in her 20s, suffered serious injuries after a horrific dog attack in Blackpool on Havelock Street, at 2.38am on June 15. Advertisement Both individuals were rushed to hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment. Police have seized the bully-type dog involved in the vicious attack, along with two other dogs that were at the scene. It comes after a Mum Victoria Hewitt was at home with her two children, aged eight and four, as well as an 11-year-old friend of the kids when family pet Karma suddenly flipped. Advertisement A knock at the door resulted in the dog acting in a "very aggressive and violent way" and she "went" for the eight-year-old, a court heard. During the incident in Costessey, Norfolk, Hewitt, 42, tried to distract the animal with some ham but it didn't work, prosecutor Chris Youell said. Instead, Karma began attacking the child as the other two screamed, before it targeted them too, reports The girls ran for the door and were all bitten before Hewitt managed to wrestle the dog away. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The eight-year-old managed to flee upstairs with her toddler brother, aged two, who was in his cot during the attack on March 7 last year. A neighbour helped Hewitt restrain Karma and held her on the floor, telling everyone to get out. When cops arrived on the scene, the mum screamed at them to "shoot the dog". The three girls suffered bite and puncture wounds which needed medical treatment. Advertisement The eight-year-old had "significant" injuries, including a deep wound down to the bone on her arm, the court heard. The dog had previously belonged to an ex partner of Hewitt's who had left it with her. Which dog breeds are banned in the UK? THERE are specific regulations in place that prohibit certain dog breeds from being owned or bred in the UK. THERE are specific regulations in place that prohibit certain dog breeds from being owned or bred in the UK. So what are the Which dog breeds are illegal in the UK? People tend to think of large, vicious dogs when they imagine being bitten by one. But the truth is that many types of dogs are known to bite humans, whether provoked or not. However, it's important to remember that just because a breed tends to bite humans, that doesn't mean that they all do. British law determines five breeds of dog are illegal to own, breed, sell or give away. These are an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro. 1 The horrific dog attack took place on Havelock Street, Blackpool, at 2.38am on June 15 More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Advertisement is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
9 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Drug mule' Charlotte May Lee's lawyer fears Brit will be in jail for MONTHS before any chance of bail over £1.2m haul
ACCUSED drug smuggler Charlotte May Lee could be left to languish in a hellhole months before being given bail, her lawyer said. The Brit, 21, was arrested last month after Sri Lankan authorities Advertisement 5 Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested in May Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 Sri Lankan cops released a photo of the seized bags of drugs Charlotte was allegedly caught with Credit: Sri Lanka Police 5 Former flight attendant At a court hearing on Friday, her lawyer Sampath Parera said no progress has been made in releasing part-time beautician Charlotte on bail. He told The Sun: "It is taking time because it is the highest amount of cannabis seized at the airport and I am speculating that investigating agencies are taking time to investigate. Charlotte has now appeared in court three times since her arrest on May 12 after cops found two suitcases stuffed with 46kg of synthetic drug Kush as she landed at Bandaranaike airport from Bangkok. Advertisement More world news Senior counsel Mr Parera said her bail is likely going to take time as the drugs seized at the airport are yet to be examined He has demanded the examination of the alleged drug by the relevant government authorities to determine whether the materials were in fact an illegal substance. The lawyer added: "I made an application on the very first day when she was produced at the court to produce those alleged cannabis to the government analysis department, or the authorities to get a report. "It's pending, so they have to come up with the report. We still don't know the exact weight of this and we still don't know that actually there is cannabis. Advertisement Most read in The Sun "It has to be confirmed by a report or the expert analysis otherwise, you can't just say that there is cannabis without testing. "We are just waiting for reports and documents... it will take about one month, or one and a half months." Brit 'drug mule' Charlotte May Lee pictured in new mugshot along with huge £1.2m drug haul 'This is not a single case in Sri Lanka. There are lots of cases where all the drugs are being produced to the government department to get reports so there would be a small delay with regard to the report." Mr Parera has claimed that the drugs were planted on Charlotte, who was Advertisement She had earlier complained of discomfort given the "alien environment--different food and language" but Mr Parera said that she has been 'showing remarkable composure'. He added: "Charlotte is coping as best as she can under the circumstances. "Being in custody in a foreign country is undoubtedly difficult, but she has shown remarkable composure. She has accommodated that situation and she talks, she laughs. "She is receiving food and basic facilities as per local standards. Advertisement "While the environment is naturally different from what she's used to, there are no immediate concerns regarding her treatment. " We are in regular contact with the authorities to ensure her wellbeing is safeguarded." 5 Charlotte faces a long stay behind bars before she is sentenced Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 The former flight attendant being led into court last month Credit: BBC Breakfast Advertisement The island nation in the Indian Ocean has one of the strictest anti-drug laws that criminalises not only trafficking but even small possession of drugs. It has long been considered a transit point for international drug smugglers to be reshipped onward. Drug trafficking can land those convicted with a life imprisonment sentence - or even the death penalty in Sri Lanka, although no executions have been carried out since 1976. More than 162,000 people were arrested in 2023 for possession of methamphetamine, according to the country's National Dangerous Drugs Control Board. Advertisement At least a dozen foreign nationals are in jail over charges of drug possession or drug trafficking. Nine Iranians were given life imprisonment in a drug smuggling case in 2023. Mr Parera said that Charlotte's case became different due to the size of the drug haul. Kush is a potent strain of marijuana cut with synthetic and dangerous additives including acetone, formalin, and tramadol. It was first seen in Sierra Leone in 2022. Advertisement If found guilty, She could result in her serving a 20 to 25-year sentence in Sri Lanka's maximum-security Welikada Prison. Mr Parera added: "There are other foreigners in the prison custody. Some have brought 13 kilos, others have brought various quantities of the same drug. Other Brit 'smuggler' Bella by Nick Parker, Foreign Editor VULNERABLE drug charge teen Bella Culley is "not far from childhood", her new lawyer said after visiting her in a grim Georgian jail. Bella's family-appointed lawyer Malkhaz Salakaia, said the 18-year-old Brit did not even know where she was and had to have her location explained to her. Mr Salakaia said Bella was in "good health" but he would not describe her as an adult, adding that she was "not far from childhood." Bella was arrested on May 11 in capital Tbilisi's airport with a suitcase packed with 31lb of cannabis and hashish after flying from Thailand via Sharjah in the UAE. She faces 15 years to life in jail in the eastern European former Soviet state. She is being held in watchtower-ringed Penitentiary No 5 near Tbilisi while prosecutors probe how she came to have the £200,000 stash and who she planned to hand it to. The teenager had been away in the Far East for weeks and boasted of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' lifestyle and posted pictures with wads of cash and smoking spliffs. Her family have now dropped local legal aid lawyer Ia Todua in favour of Mr Salakaia who does not speak English and is understood to have been recommended by British Embassy staff. He specialises in juvenile law and is expected to argue that vulnerable Bella - who announced she is pregnant in court - is a victim who was manipulated by ruthless traffickers. "This case is having extra attention from all over the world media and in the media in Sri Lanka because it is considered to be the biggest amount of cannabis which was brought to Sri Lanka and arrested in the airport." He insisted that Charlotte was innocent and he was trying to get her justice. Advertisement 'A person is presumed to be innocent until he or she is proven guilty," Mr Parera said. "She is just a suspect at the moment. She needs to get justice. We are assisting her to get justice, and we are assisting the court too. I'm doing my level best for my client. 'She's denying the charges. She doesn't know what happened there. She remains hopeful that the truth will emerge and that justice will be served in due course.' Comparisons have been drawn between Charlotte's case and Advertisement She is also being detained under smuggling charges. Although the two have never met, both young women were in Bangkok's airport alone before their arrests, and both were allegedly found with large quantities of cannabis in their bags. She was found with 13kg of marijuana. Both women also reportedly told friends and family back home that they were meeting a man in Thailand. Advertisement Mr Parera added: "While there have been media reports of foreign nationals — including Britons — being caught up in drug-related cases, we strongly believe each case must be approached independently and with factual clarity. "It would not be fair to cast broad assumptions about the local legal system. Our focus remains on ensuring a fair and transparent process for Charlotte."
