Latest news with #BandaranaikeAirport
NDTV
27-05-2025
- NDTV
UK Woman, 21, Arrested In Sri Lanka For Smuggling Deadly Drug Made From Human Bones
A 21-year-old former flight attendant from the UK is facing up to 25 years in a Sri Lankan prison after being caught allegedly smuggling over 100 pounds (approximately 45 kg) of a deadly new synthetic drug made of human bones. According to the BBC, Charlotte May Lee from south London was arrested earlier this month at Bandaranaike Airport in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. She was caught allegedly carrying suitcases full of "kush," a new drug originating in West Africa which kills an estimated dozen people a week in Sierra Leone alone. According to the BBC, Ms Lee claimed that the drug stash, which has an estimated street value of $3.3 million (approximately Rs 28 crore), was planted in her suitcases without her knowledge. She is currently being held in a jail north of Colombo, where she has to sleep on a concrete floor. She has been allowed to contact her family. If found guilty, she could face up to 25 years in prison. A senior officer in the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit said the discovery, at Colombo's Bandaranaike Airport, was the largest kush seizure in the airport's history. Ms Lee's lawyer, Sampath Perera, told the BBC that his team was visiting her daily in prison in the city of Negombo to provide support and monitor her well-being. Mr Perera said that the 21-year-old had been working in Thailand when she was forced to leave because her 30-day visa was due to run out, so she decided to take a three-hour flight to Sri Lanka while she waited for the renewal of her Thai visa. "I had never seen them (the drugs) before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff," Ms Lee told the Daily Mail. She also implied she knew who had "planted" the drugs in her suitcases, but wouldn't name them. "They must have planted it then. I know who did it," she said. Notably, the drug, dubbed "kush", is made from a variety of toxic substances, with one of its main ingredients being ground-up human bone. The narcotic first emerged in the West African country around seven years ago. It induces a hypnotic high which can last several hours. The drug has become a widespread problem, and dealers have reportedly turned into grave robbers, breaking into thousands of tombs to steal skeletons to keep up with the demands. Last year, Sierra Leone's president also declared a state of emergency over the abuse of kush. "Our country is currently faced with an existential threat due to the ravaging impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the devastating synthetic drug Kush," Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio said at the time. Mr Bio added that there had been "escalating fatalities" among the drug users. He also said that he has set up a task force to eradicate the drug. This means there will be centres in every district "adequately staffed by trained professionals to offer care and support to people with drug addiction," he said.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit woman's drug smuggling case has TWO mystery men at its heart
Charlotte May Lee, currently behind bars in Georgia accused of smuggling drugs, is said to have come into contact with two men - known as "Dan" and "Rocko" who may help her defence A case involving a British woman rotting in a Georgian prison after being accused of drug smuggling has two mystery men who could answer questions. Charlotte May Lee, 21, is accused of carrying large quantities of cannabis valued at more than £1million into Sri Lanka from Thailand and faces up to 25 years behind bars if found guilty. The part-time beautician from Chipstead, Surrey, is currently being held in a "rotting" cell near the capital of Colombo after she was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport. Earlier this week it was reported Lee was 'besotted' with a man known only as 'Rocko' who could support her case. Now it has been reported her plane ticket was bought by a man named Dan in Bangkok, who told her he had to stay in the country. MailOnline reported Sri Lankan police described Lee as 'desperate and incredibly naive' after 'Dan' told her the country was a 'lovely place' to visit. Earlier this week pals told The Sun Charlotte was besotted with a man named Rocko. They think this could help her defence if she pleads not guilty in the next court hearing. An unknown British man reportedly was waiting for Charlotte when she arrived in Sri Lanka. It comes as a friend said Charlotte is finding it tough behind bars, with her cleaning regime merely a glass of water being poured over her head. The friend said her pal is 'struggling' and is a 'mess'. She has been told in court she may not be sentenced for another 12 months and could face 25 years in jail at the brutal Welikada Prison if convicted. In her mugshot, Charlotte can be seen looking nervously at the camera while dressed in an all-white outfit and shiny sandals. New images also show drugs in large vacuum-sealed bags, which were allegedly put into her luggage and found at the airport. The bags were stacked up and laid out on a table with members of Colombo's Police Narcotic Unit standing behind. Charlotte has said she was not aware there were drugs in her luggage. She told MailOnline: "I had never seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. "I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff. I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early. "So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning. They must have planted it then." Charlotte said she had been working on a 'booze cruise' in Thailand. She claimed she took a trip to Sri Lanka nearby as her 30-day visa was about to expire and she could wait there before getting a new one.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Ex-stewardess 'drug smuggler' was 'besotted with mystery man Rocko' on holiday
Friends of alleged British drug smuggler Charlotte May Lee said she was besotted with a man named 'Rocko' before she was arrested in Sri Lanka, accused of carring £1m of cannabis A British woman accused of being a drug smuggler had fallen for a mystery man, her friends say - and they think it could be vital for her defence. Charlotte May Lee, 21, is accused of carrying large quantities of cannabis valued at more than £1million into Sri Lanka from Thailand. The young Brit faces up to 25 years behind bars if she is found guilty. The part-time beautician from Chipstead, Surrey is currently being held in a "rotting" cell near the capital of Colombo after she was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport. She has been held in custody since last Monday. Pals told The Sun that Charlotte was besotted with a man named Rocko. They think this could help her defence if she pleads not guilty in the next court hearing. An unknown British man reportedly was waiting for Charlotte when she arrived in Sri Lanka. It comes as another Brit, Bella May Culley, was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of drug offences. Her family says she flew to Thailand to meet with a mystery man following a string of loved up social media posts. Speaking to The Mirror, her grandfather William Culley, 80, said she "went to see some lad out there". He added: "She went to the Philippines to see somebody, a lad there, who she used to go out with a couple of years ago, who was working out there." In one video on her TikTok, Bella likened herself to Bonnie from the infamous criminal duo Bonnie and Clyde, posting about engaging in "criminal activities side by side" and "making heavy figures". She wrote in a caption: "Blonde or brunette? Erm how about we get up to criminal activities side by side like Bonnie n Clyde making heavy figures and f****** on balconies all over the world." Another video is captioned: "Don't care if we on the run baby as long as I'm next to u." A friend said Charlotte, meanwhile, is finding it tough behind bars, with her cleaning regime merely a glass of water being poured over her head. The friend said her pal is 'struggling' and is a 'mess'. Yesterday she was told in court that she may not be sentenced for another 12 months and could face 25 years in jail at the brutal Welikada Prison if convicted. In her mugshot, Charlotte can be seen looking nervously at the camera while dressed in an all-white outfit and shiny sandals. New images also show drugs in large vacuum-sealed bags, which were allegedly put into her luggage and found at the airport. The bags were stacked up and laid out on a table with members of Colombo's Police Narcotic Unit standing behind. Charlotte has said she was not aware there were drugs in her luggage. She told MailOnline: "I had never seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff. I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early. "So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning. They must have planted it then." She added: "I know who did it." Charlotte said she had been working on a 'booze cruise' in Thailand. She claimed she took a trip to Sri Lanka nearby as her 30-day visa was about to expire and she could wait there before getting a new one. "I thought while I was waiting for the visa that I'd come to Sri Lanka. They [the people she believed planted the drugs] were supposed to meet me here. But now I'm here - stuck in this jail," she said.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Ex-TUI stewardess caught with £1.2m of drugs in Sri Lanka 'knows who set her up'
Charlotte May Lee was stopped at a Sri Lankan airport with authorities claiming she had more than £1 million worth of cannabis in her luggage. A former TUI air hostess locked up in a grim Sri Lanka jail after being caught with cannabis valued at £1.2million claims she was set up - and knows who did it. Charlotte Lee May, 21, is accused of attempting to smuggle 46kg of the synthetic cannabis drug 'kush' into Sri Lanka and was cuffed by cops after touching down in Bandaranaike Airport from Bangkok last week, reports the Mirror. The part-time beautician from Chipstead, Surrey is currently being held in a "rotting" cell at Negombo Prison, north of the Sri Lankan capital, where she faces her first court appearance on Wednesday having been held in custody since last Monday. She insists she had no idea the drugs were in her bags and believes they were planted while she was on a night out in Bangkok. She told MailOnline: "I had never seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff. "I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was really early. "So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning. "They must have planted it then. I know who did it." Miss Lee claims she had been working on a "booze cruise" in Thailand. She says she took a trip to Sri Lanka nearby as her 30-day visa was about to expire and she could wait there to get a new one. Charlotte said: "I thought while I was waiting for the visa that I'd come to Sri Lanka. "They [the people she believed planted the drugs] were supposed to meet me here. But now I'm here - stuck in this jail." Charlotte spent a week under interrogation at the Police Narcotics Bureau and fears a long sentence if she is convicted. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. One pal who had spoken to her since she was detained told the Sun : "She thinks she's going away for a long time. She is scared but talks of becoming very friendly with a prison guard." While she is currently able to see visitors 9.30am until 4.30pm during the day, this will become heavily restricted once she is formally charged in court today, leaving her feeling "scared", her friend added. It is understood Charlotte's family will not be flying over to visit her. The 21-year-old ex-TUI stewardess is also said to be "aware" of the recent case involving 18-year-old Bella May Culley, who was detained at Tbilisi Airport, Georgia this month for allegedly carrying 14kg of cannabis in her bag.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Seven bombshells in jailed TUI stewardess saga as she 'cries and refuses to eat'
Former TUI stewardess Charlotte May Lee was arrested in the Sri Lankan capital of Columbo after she allegedly smuggled an estimated £1.2 million worth of kush into the country Brit Charlotte May Lee has broken her silence following her arrest after allegedly smuggling drugs into Sri Lanka - including her despair at having to eat "too spicy" food. Lee, 21, from Coulsdon, south London, was apprehended in the country's capital Columbo last week after she was allegedly caught with 46kg of the synthetic strain of cannabis kush, worth an estimated £1.2 million, in her suitcase. The former TUI stewardess had arrived into the country from Bangkok, Thailand, before being taken into custody by police at Bandaranaike Airport on Monday. She has since been detained in the woman's ward of Negombo Prison just north of the capital. The Brit has claimed she had "no idea" there were drugs in her suitcase and has been eager to share her side of the story, including going days without food as she feels the meals are "too spicy." Should Lee be found guilty, she could face years behind bars. Here are seven bombshells from the saga so far... Claim drugs were planted Lee has vigorously defended herself and denied intentionally smuggling drugs into Sri Lanka, claiming the huge amount of synthetic cannabis must have been planted. Speaking to Mail Online, she said: "I had never seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff." She claimed to have left her bags at a hotel before heading for a night out in Bangkok and did not check them the following morning as she had packed them before she went out. "They must have planted it then," she continued. "I know who did it." Avoiding prison food The Brit has complained about conditions inside the prison, taking a particular dislike to the food on offer to inmates. Lee told the outlet that she had complained to her legal representatives about the standard of meals inside the jail. "I've not eaten in two days because the food is just too spicy for me," Lee said. "I have told my lawyers - I have three of them - that I need different food. They said they would sort that but they still haven't. I don't know why." Grim prison conditions The ex-TUI cabin crew employee claimed she has been forced to sleep on a concrete floor and that she needs to use her own jumper as a pillow. Lee also said she had not been given a change of cloths and had been denied access to her ADHD medication. Prison staff only offered to give her sleeping tablets that she said "properly knock you out." Lee added there was no real shower, instead prisoners were forced to use a bucket to pour over themselves. The Brit and other prisoners are also only allowed to spend two or three hours outside, although this can sometimes be longer if there are a lot of women in court on that particular day. 'Can't trust' lawyers Lee said she "can't trust' many people in prison, including the lawyers. She claimed prison staff and lawyers "don't care about you" and that she has nothing inside the jail, although other prisoners have been willing to share some items with her. The Londoner is facing one charge of possessing illegal drugs and another of importing illegal drugs into the country. Lee 'completely lost' An unnamed legal source told Mail Online Lee appeared "completely" lost as the magnitude of the situation took its toll. "She was crying a lot and was all on her own," the source added. "It looked like she didn't have any idea about what was going on," the source continued. They added it was unclear what was going to happen to her in the near future. Struggle to contact family Lee has claimed to have struggled to get in touch with family members, not even being able to write them a letter. She added: "There is no communication. You are told nothing. I couldn't arrange an e-visit." The Brit did admit being able to speak with some of the other female inmates in English and that they have shared biscuits with her. Other Brits in the prison are men, according to the detainee, and that she is unable to speak with them as they are held elsewhere in the jail. Scandal-hit prison Trainee nail technician Lee could be transferred to Welikada Prison in Colombo in the near future, according to the legal source. The prison is a maximum security facility that holds both men and women. But it is not without controversy. The prison was the site of riots in 2012 where 27 people died. It has also bee branded "hell" for women with maggots and rats running rife around cramped cells.
