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Scottish Sun
21-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
‘Drug smuggler' Charlotte May Lee weeps in court as she faces a YEAR in Sri Lanka hell jail before she's even sentenced
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Brit accused of trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2m into Sri Lanka wept as she was formally remanded into a top-security 'hell' prison today. Emotional Charlotte May Lee, 21, was told she may not be sentenced for another 12 months. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Charlotte May Lee faces a long stay behind bars before she is sentenced Credit: Tim Stewart 7 Charlotte wept in court as she was formally remanded in prison in Sri Lanka Credit: Tim Stewart 7 The drug stash Charlotte is accused of smuggling Credit: Police Handout 7 The maggot-infested 'hellhole' prison where Charlotte faces being locked up And even then she's been warned she could face 25 years behind bars in tough maximum security Welikada Prison if convicted of being a drug mule. After her first court appearance she will no longer be allowed to use her phone or contact her loved ones. A source told The Sun: 'Charlotte is crying a lot. The penny has dropped and she is more aware of her perilous situation. 'The jail is not fit for a rat to live in. And she has been told to get used to it. 'She is a total mess. She hates the food, which is only rice with the occasional hot curry. 'The prison is so full that she has been lying in the corridor on a concrete floor with no pillow or sheet.' The Sun can reveal a mystery British man was waiting for Charlotte when she arrived on a flight to Colombo from Thailand last Monday. She was nicked when cops found a record amount of deadly super-strong synthetic cannabinoid Kush. A source said: 'Charlotte had been going on about this man she was madly in love with. She met him in Bangkok. He was then waiting for her on touchdown in Sri Lanka. 'She obviously never got to meet him when she was arrested. Who is this man - the police should be investigating him. We understand he has even been in touch with Charlotte behind bars. We worry she is somehow under his spell.' Brits accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK from abroad are being locked away for a long time Charlotte yesterday claimed the drugs - 25 times more potent than powerful opioid fentanyl - found in her suitcase were "planted" on her. The part-time beautician, of Chipstead in Surrey said she had "no idea" that there were drugs in her luggage when she left Bangkok. She claimed: "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. 7 Charlotte has been accused of trying to smuggle £1.2million worth of drugs into Sri Lanka Credit: Moyes 7 Charlotte formerly worked as an air stewardess Credit: Tim Stewart "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." The young Brit believes the huge amount of illegal substances were planted in her luggage in a planned move by dangerous dealers in Southeast Asia. And Charlotte, a former TUI stewardess, has now said: "I know who did it." Charlotte said the jail shower is just a bucket of water with a broken TV the only activity available. Another major issue the Brit, from Coulsdon, is facing is eating and keeping clean. Kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug, has claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa where it first appeared in 2022 - and is spreading globally at an alarming rate. The dirt-cheap drug is cut with an array of additives including acetone, the opioid tramadol and formalin, a toxic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies in mortuaries. 7 Charlotte May Lee is in jail in Sri Lanka It comes as a friend of Charlotte's revealed she is aware of the similar case of Bella Culley - an 18-year-old arrested in Georgia who is also accused of drug smuggling. However, the two youngsters have never met, and Charlotte "doesn't know if there is any connection" to her own ordeal. Shocking images published by customs officials in Sri Lanka show how drugs had been allegedly stuffed into Charlotte's luggage in large vacuum-sealed bags. Bella's alleged stash was also discovered in stacked, airtight packages pointing to a similar-style operation. And in another twist, the two had individually told their loved ones they planned on meeting a mystery man during their travels. Bella revealed to her family she was meeting an unknown man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East. Sri Lanka's maximum security Welikada Prison is notoriously 'hellish', with 650 women in a ward designed for 150 cons. Riots have erupted due to poor conditions, including the sweltering heat.
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Drug smuggler' Charlotte May Lee weeps in court as she faces a YEAR in Sri Lanka hell jail before she's even sentenced
THE Brit accused of trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2m into Sri Lanka wept as she was formally remanded into a top-security 'hell' prison today. Emotional Charlotte May Lee, 21, was told she may not be sentenced for another 12 months. Advertisement 7 Charlotte May Lee faces a long stay behind bars before she is sentenced Credit: Tim Stewart 7 Charlotte wept in court as she was formally remanded in prison in Sri Lanka Credit: Tim Stewart 7 The drug stash Charlotte is accused of smuggling Credit: Police Handout 7 The maggot-infested 'hellhole' prison where Charlotte faces being locked up And even then she's been warned she could face 25 years behind bars in tough maximum security Welikada Prison if convicted of being a drug mule. After her first court appearance she will no longer be allowed to use her phone or contact her loved ones. A source told The Sun: 'Charlotte is crying a lot. The penny has dropped and she is more aware of her perilous situation. 'The jail is not fit for a rat to live in. And she has been told to get used to it. Advertisement read more on charlotte 'She is a total mess. She hates the food, which is only rice with the occasional hot curry. 'The prison is so full that she has been lying in the corridor on a concrete floor with no pillow or sheet.' The Sun can reveal a mystery British man was waiting for Charlotte when she arrived on a flight to Colombo from Thailand last Monday. She was nicked when cops found a record amount of deadly super-strong synthetic cannabinoid Kush. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive A source said: 'Charlotte had been going on about this man she was madly in love with. She met him in Bangkok. He was then waiting for her on touchdown in Sri Lanka. 'She obviously never got to meet him when she was arrested. Who is this man - the police should be investigating him. We understand he has even been in touch with Charlotte behind bars. We worry she is somehow under his spell.' Brits accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK from abroad are being locked away for a long time Charlotte yesterday claimed the drugs - 25 times more potent than powerful opioid fentanyl - found in her suitcase were "planted" on her. The part-time beautician, of Chipstead in Surrey said she had "no idea" that there were drugs in her luggage when she left Bangkok. Advertisement She claimed: "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. 7 Charlotte has been accused of trying to smuggle £1.2million worth of drugs into Sri Lanka Credit: Moyes 7 Charlotte formerly worked as an air stewardess Credit: Tim Stewart Advertisement "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." The young Brit believes the huge amount of illegal substances were planted in her luggage in a planned move by dangerous dealers in Southeast Asia. And Charlotte, a former TUI stewardess, has now said: "I know who did it." Charlotte said the jail shower is just a bucket of water with a broken TV the only activity available. Advertisement Another major issue the Brit, from Coulsdon, is facing is eating and keeping clean. Kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug, has claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa where it first appeared in 2022 - and is spreading globally at an alarming rate. The dirt-cheap drug is cut with an array of additives including acetone, the opioid tramadol and formalin, a toxic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies in mortuaries. 7 Charlotte May Lee is in jail in Sri Lanka Advertisement It comes as a friend of Charlotte's revealed she is aware of the similar case of Bella Culley - an 18-year-old arrested in Georgia who is also accused of drug smuggling. However, the two youngsters have never met, and Charlotte "doesn't know if there is any connection" to her own ordeal. Shocking images published by customs officials in Sri Lanka show how drugs had been allegedly stuffed into Charlotte's luggage in large vacuum-sealed bags. Bella's alleged stash was also discovered in stacked, airtight packages pointing to a similar-style operation. Advertisement And in another twist, the two had individually told their loved ones they planned on meeting a mystery man during their travels. Bella revealed to her family she was meeting an unknown man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East. Sri Lanka's maximum security Welikada Prison is notoriously 'hellish', with 650 women in a ward designed for 150 cons. Riots have erupted due to poor conditions, including the sweltering heat.
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Inside rat & maggot-infested Sri Lanka hell prison where Charlotte May Lee is languishing with 650 crammed to a room
The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially 'LESS THAN HUMAN' Inside rat & maggot-infested Sri Lanka hell prison where Charlotte May Lee is languishing with 650 crammed to a room Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A YOUNG Brit accused of smuggling £1.2million worth of drugs into Sri Lanka faces being locked up in an overcrowded "hellhole" prison infested with rats and maggots. Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested after disembarking a flight from Thailand to Sri Lanka last week. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 9 Former stewardess Charlotte May Lee, of Coulsdon, south London, who was arrested on May 12, 2025 in Sri Lanka Credit: Tim Stewart 9 She was arrested after disembarking a flight from Thailand to Sri Lanka last week Credit: Tim Stewart 9 The prison is reported to be infested with maggots and rats 9 She is accused of smuggling 46kg of the synthetic drug kush in her suitcases. The part-time beautician is currently being held in a local jail called Negombo Prison while her case proceeds through the courts. She is expected to appear in court for the first time tomorrow - but reportedly does not know if she will be remanded formally. But the former TUI stewardess from south London faces horrifying conditions in the maximum security Welikada Prison in the capital Colombo if found guilty, the MailOnline has reported. "There are 650 of us in the female ward though it was built for 150 people." A friend told The Sun on Sunday: "She's been told if convicted, because of the size of the drugs haul, she's looking at between 20 and 25 years in jail. "British Embassy staff warned her she's going nowhere soon." The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially. Its suffocatingly overcrowded cells have seen reports of rats on the loose - and even maggots in the food. One inmate told Al Jazeera back in 2011: "There are 650 of us in the female ward though it was built for 150 people." "We are treated as far less than human," another said. "About 150 of us sleep in a cell designed for 75 people. An open drain infested with rats runs the perimeter of the room. "Recently, one of the inmates was bitten and had to be rushed to the hospital for an anti-rabies shot." Brit 'drug smuggler' Bella Culley 'starving' in ex-Soviet hell prison - as she reveals pregnancy craving to celeb lawyer Welikada Prison was designed to house 1,500 prisoners, but is currently operating at more than double this capacity with some 4,000 inmates, according to the UK government website. "Inmates do not have separate cells. There are no beds. They are given a mattress to sleep on and are housed in dormitories, which can contain up to 25 inmates," the website adds. "The dorms can be very hot, as there are no fans and they are often infested with mosquitoes." The prison has also seen major outbreaks of violence, with a deadly riot rocking the slammer back in 2012. Some 27 inmates died and more than 40 were injured in the violence. 9 Inside maggot-infested 'hellhole' prison where a young Brit air stewardess faces being locked up 9 The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk In 1983, it saw a massacre in which 55 Tamil prisoners were killed by Sinhalese inmates. Another riot broke out in 2020 over a surge of coronavirus infections in prisons. Charlotte is reported to have left for Thailand weeks ago, and relatives say she made vague comments about meeting a man there. She has been accused of two charges - possessing illegal drugs and importing illegal drugs into Sri Lanka. A loved one said yesterday: 'Charlotte was vague before leaving but just said she was going to meet a British guy who can't come home. They were meeting in Thailand. We're frantically worried. 'She'd had a nasty split with a boyfriend before leaving the UK and was trying to get back on her feet.' British Embassy officials in Sri Lanka visited Charlotte in jail last Wednesday. A legal source told the MailOnline: "She was crying a lot and was all on her own. It looked like she didn't have any idea about what was going on. "She will either have to pay a fine or she will be sent to Welikada Prison in Colombo." A friend who spoke to Charlotte said: "She thinks she's going away for a long time. "She is scared but talks of becoming very friendly with a prison guard." It follows the similar case of 18-year-old Bella Culley, who was arrested in Georgia's Tbilisi airport over drug smuggling allegations after being reported missing in Thailand. She faces a gruelling nine-month wait in a brutal ex-Soviet prison as she awaits trial. Culley previously appeared in court where she said she was pregnant and invoked her right to remain silent. Charlotte is reportedly "aware" of the Bella Culley case but does not know if there is any connection with her own ordeal. 9 The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially Credit: AFP 9 It follows the similar case of 18-year-old Bella Culley Credit: @ / tiktok
The Irish Sun
20-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Inside rat & maggot-infested Sri Lanka hell prison where Charlotte May Lee is languishing with 650 crammed to a room
A YOUNG Brit accused of smuggling £1.2million worth of drugs into Sri Lanka faces being locked up in an overcrowded "hellhole" prison infested with rats and maggots. Charlotte May Lee, 21, Advertisement 9 Former stewardess Charlotte May Lee, of Coulsdon, south London, who was arrested on May 12, 2025 in Sri Lanka Credit: Tim Stewart 9 She was arrested after disembarking a flight from Thailand to Sri Lanka last week Credit: Tim Stewart 9 The prison is reported to be infested with maggots and rats 9 She is accused of smuggling 46kg of the synthetic drug kush in her suitcases. The part-time beautician is currently being held in a local jail called Negombo Prison while her case proceeds through the courts. She is expected to appear in court for the first time tomorrow - but reportedly does not know if she will be remanded formally. But the former TUI stewardess from south London faces horrifying conditions in the maximum security Welikada Prison in the capital Colombo if found guilty, the MailOnline has reported. Advertisement read more in world news "There are 650 of us in the female ward though it was built for 150 people." A friend told The Sun on Sunday: "She's been told if convicted, because of the size of the drugs haul, she's looking at between 20 and 25 years in jail. "British Embassy staff warned her she's going nowhere soon." The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Its suffocatingly overcrowded cells have seen reports of rats on the loose - and even maggots in the food. One inmate told Al Jazeera back in 2011: "There are 650 of us in the female ward though it was built for 150 people." "We are treated as far less than human," another said. "About 150 of us sleep in a cell designed for 75 people. An open drain infested with rats runs the perimeter of the room. Advertisement "Recently, one of the inmates was bitten and had to be rushed to the hospital for an anti-rabies shot." Brit 'drug smuggler' Bella Culley 'starving' in ex-Soviet hell prison - as she reveals pregnancy craving to celeb lawyer Welikada Prison was designed to house 1,500 prisoners, but is currently operating at more than double this capacity with some 4,000 inmates, according to the UK government website. "Inmates do not have separate cells. There are no beds. They are given a mattress to sleep on and are housed in dormitories, which can contain up to 25 inmates," the website adds. "The dorms can be very hot, as there are no fans and they are often infested with mosquitoes." Advertisement The prison has also seen major outbreaks of violence, with a deadly riot rocking the slammer back in 2012. Some 27 inmates died and more than 40 were injured in the violence. 9 Inside maggot-infested 'hellhole' prison where a young Brit air stewardess faces being locked up 9 The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk Advertisement In 1983, it saw a massacre in which 55 Tamil prisoners were killed by Sinhalese inmates. Another riot broke out in 2020 over a surge of coronavirus infections in prisons. Charlotte is reported to have left for Thailand weeks ago, and relatives say she made vague comments about meeting a man there. She has been accused of two charges - possessing illegal drugs and importing illegal drugs into Sri Lanka. Advertisement A loved one said yesterday: 'Charlotte was vague before leaving but just said she was going to meet a British guy who can't come home. They were meeting in Thailand. We're frantically worried. 'She'd had a nasty split with a boyfriend before leaving the UK and was trying to get back on her feet.' British Embassy officials in Sri Lanka visited Charlotte in jail last Wednesday. A legal source told the MailOnline: "She was crying a lot and was all on her own. It looked like she didn't have any idea about what was going on. Advertisement "She will either have to pay a fine or she will be sent to Welikada Prison in Colombo." A friend who spoke to Charlotte said: "She thinks she's going away for a long time. "She is scared but talks of becoming very friendly with a prison guard." It follows the similar case of 18-year-old Bella Culley, Advertisement She faces a gruelling nine-month wait in a brutal ex-Soviet prison as she awaits trial. Culley previously appeared in court where she said she was pregnant and invoked her right to remain silent . Charlotte is reportedly "aware" of the Bella Culley case but does not know if there is any connection with her own ordeal. 9 The infamous Welikada Prison is said to be "hell" for female inmates especially Credit: AFP Advertisement 9 It follows the similar case of 18-year-old Bella Culley Credit: @ / tiktok 9 An amblance is parked outside Colombo's main jail on November 7, 2010 Credit: AFP
