Latest news with #WelikadaPrison
The Sun
23-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit ‘drug mule' Charlotte Lee ‘washing by having glass of water tipped on her head' as grim new prison details revealed
ALLEGED drug mule Charlotte May Lee is washing by 'having a glass of water poured over her head' as grim new details about her life behind bars have been revealed. The Brit claimed that she didn't know she was smuggling £1.2million worth of the synthetic drug kush into Sri Lanka before she was detained - and called her allegations 'made up'. 9 9 9 Emotional Charlotte May, 21, was told she may not be sentenced for another 12 months - and will face at least 20 years in the 'hellish' Welikada Prison if convicted. Her pals believe she was besotted by a mystery man named Rocko - a key piece of information which could be crucial to her defence. She will plead 'not guilty' at the next court hearing, which could take place in a fortnight, mates said. Prosecutors will argue her experience as a stewardess with holiday airline TUI proves she, 'knew to check her luggage before a flight'. Charlotte had work done on her teeth, hair extensions fitted, and bought designer bags and trainers, before she headed from the UK to Thailand on holiday to hook up with mystery man Rocko. Her friends revealed that Charlotte is struggling behind bars after her arrest due to the shocking conditions. The part-time nail technician told friends she has not been allowed medication. And her cleaning regime consists of 'having a glass of water poured over her head'. A friend said: 'She is struggling. We're so scared for her. She is a mess.' She can only use her phone while on remand in jail in Colombo for 'emergency calls'. Brit 'drug smuggler' Bella Culley 'starving' in ex-Soviet hell prison - as she reveals pregnancy craving to celeb lawyer An unknown 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. Fears have been growing that Charlotte's case could be linked to that of 18-year-old Bella May Culley, who was arrested in Georgia after allegedly being caught with a suitcase of cannabis. Student nurse Bella had also told loved ones she was meeting a man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East during her travels. The backpacker's social media went on to show her clearly in the company of a male stranger - but he was never clearly pictured or named. Her grandad William Culley, 80, revealed last Wednesday that she appears to have spent most of March in Thailand but also spent time in the Philippines with a man called 'Ross or Russ'. Charlotte, of Chipstead in Surrey, claimed the drugs found in her suitcase were "planted" on her. She 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. 9 9 9 "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." 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 said: "I know who did it." 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. Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveals By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: 'Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while. 'There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand's islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this. 'There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail. 'This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals. 'It's easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa. 'Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods. 'They're usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them. 'These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media. 'Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad. 'They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand. 'Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market. 'We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.' It comes as a friend of Charlotte's revealed she is aware of the similar case of Bella Culley. 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. A former partner of Charlotte arrested in connection with allegations that he mistreated her is now expected to have his case dropped. The tattooed muscle man released a video dancing a jig - seemingly celebrating her shocking arrest and the dramatic turn of events. 9 9
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The 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. 8 8 8 8 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. 8 8 "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. 8 8 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 Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Brit ‘drug mule', 21, speaks from jail & insists £1m cannabis haul was PLANTED – cryptically saying ‘I know who did it'
A BRIT jailed in Sri Lanka over serious smuggling accusations has claimed the drugs found in her suitcase were "planted" on her. Charlotte May Lee, 21, has pleaded her innocence in her first statement since her arrest - even revealing she knows exactly who set her up. 5 5 5 The Brit will appear in court for the first time today - after languishing in a 'hell-hole' prison for days. Charlotte may soon be moved to the maximum security Welikada Prison in appalling conditions as she fears a 25-year jail term if convicted under Sri Lanka's strict anti-drug laws. The part-time beautician, of Chipstead in Surrey, was stopped by Sri Lankan customs officials after stepping off a flight from Thailand on Monday last week. It was claimed her two suitcases were stuffed full of 46kg of super-strong 'Kush' marijuana - which is 25 times more potent than powerful opioid fentanyl. Speaking to MailOnline from behind bars Charlotte 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. "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 has now said: "I know who did it." Brits accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the UK from abroad are being locked away for a long time She revealed: "They [the people she believed planted the drugs] were supposed to meet me here. But now I'm here - stuck in this jail." Negombo Prison is a notorious jail in Sri Lanka with a dark past. Charlotte says the rumours around the conditions the women and men are made to live in are all true. She said: "It is hard. I feel as though I have no human rights here. "There are no beds, no blankets. And where you sleep is like a long corridor with lots of other women. "I am sleeping on a concrete floor - literally. All I have is my jumper as a pillow. "I only have this one pair of clothes, nothing else to change into and I'm not being allowed my medication for ADHD." Charlotte also said the shower is just a bucket of water with a broken TV the only activity available. 5 5 Another major issue the Brit, from Coulsdon, is facing is eating. She said: "I've not eaten in two days because the food is just too spicy for me. "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. "Fortunately, some of the girls speak English and have shared biscuits and things like that with me, which is nice." Her first hearing begins today over the discovery of £1.2 million worth of kush found in her luggage. 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. 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. Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveals By Patrick Harrington Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: 'Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while. 'There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand's islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this. 'There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail. 'This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals. 'It's easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa. 'Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods. 'They're usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them. 'These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media. 'Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad. 'They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand. 'Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market. 'We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.'
