Two 20 year old women Charged with Cocaine Smuggling in Peru

[arista]

Michaella McCollum, 20 from Belfast
and Melissa Reid ,20 from Glasgow
are Guilty.

You pack your own bag
never ever take a bag you did not pack.


lock them away.


I wonder how many other Mule runs they did?


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/13/article-2391393-1B481095000005DC-96_964x336.jpg


http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2013/8/13/253426/default/v1/mirror-1-329x437.jpg


http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2013/8/13/253427/default/v1/times-1-329x437.jpg

[Z]

I know people that know the Scottish one

[arista]

I know people that know the Scottish one



She needs to speak up
stop the Belfast one from doing all the talking

[Z]

Wonder if they're going to be jailed?

[arista]

Wonder if they're going to be jailed?


Bloody right they are
they are mules


http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2013/8/13/253371/default/v1/melissa-reid-1-522x293.jpg
Reid the 19 year old from Scotland (now 20)

http://news.sky.com/story/1128308/peru-drugs-bust-pairs-families-threatened





Life In The City

[Livia]

Can anyone still be stupid enough to do this? I know loads of people who've travelled in South America and managed it without being coerced into trafficking drugs. These girls are idiots, but I expect the bleeding hearts will be saying how awful that two young girls had to do this because they were in fear for their lives. Some people should stay at home.

[Cherie]

I don't think they were coerced in South America. the were both working as Club Hostesses in Ibiza, allegedly young pretty girls are targetted offered a free holiday to SA and a lump sum on return when they come back with the goods, their families were unaware they were in SA so it would seem this is a credible story. Both idiots, with euro signs in their eyes. They won't be back anytime soon.

[Ammi]

I don't think they were coerced in South America. the were both working as Club Hostesses in Ibiza, allegedly young pretty girls are targetted offered a free holiday to SA and a lump sum on return when they come back with the goods, their families were unaware they were in SA so it would seem this is a credible story. Both idiots, with euro signs in their eyes. They won't be back anytime soon.

..I completely agree with you Cherie, they 'disappeared' and then ended up being in SA...I think for them it was a way to travel and earn some cash and they've been completely stupid to think that was a wise thing to agree to...

[arista]

Can anyone still be stupid enough to do this? I know loads of people who've travelled in South America and managed it without being coerced into trafficking drugs. These girls are idiots, but I expect the bleeding hearts will be saying how awful that two young girls had to do this because they were in fear for their lives. Some people should stay at home.

We do not know if they did other Drug Mule Trips
and at that age they would be that stupid.


Lock them away

[LikeABoatOnWater]

pmsl I love this news story, these bints are clearly thick. lock em up and throw away the key.

[Nedusa]

How many times have we heard this before ? , we were tricked or forced or coerced or even blackmailed into smuggling Millions of pounds worth of Cocaine into Europe/UK

Fact is this is the story they are told to use in the event they get caught, well it won't wash with the authorities as there is too much evidence to the contary. Why had they gone to this country when they were already on holiday in another country ? and why did they not alert authorities BEFORE they boarded the flight not wait until they got caught.

No the authorities have heard all this before and if they stick to this story and plead NOT GUILTY they risk be imprisoned for over 25 years !!!! not a sensible strategy I would have thought.

Better to come clean and apologise and take whetever sentence is passed. Either way both of them are looking at years of Jail time..........!!!!!

[Kizzy]

There was a story not long ago where a homely looking middle aged lady was facing sentencing in a country for drug smuggling, as I recall many were quite sympathetic.
I didn't hear as many call her thick or an idiot.
They may have ruined their lives due to this decision there's no need for any crowing.
Anyone is capable of making bad choices.

[Ammi]

..I believe there was a story about a grandmother who smuggled drugs, It's a stupid thing to do and she deserved punishment..the usual punishment for that crime which I believe was in Bali is 15yrs in prison..I think that's right and I believe that punishment should have been given but because the judge was concerned about Bali's tourist industry he decided to ignore the state punishment and sentence her to death by firing squad...that I do find completely barbaric....

[Redway]

There was a story not long ago where a homely looking middle aged lady was facing sentencing in a country for drug smuggling, as I recall many were quite sympathetic.
I didn't hear as many call her thick or an idiot.
They may have ruined their lives due to this decision there's no need for any crowing.
Anyone is capable of making bad choices.

... Perhaps that's because receiving lengthy, deserved prison sentences is absolutely not tantamount to the death penalty? I'm genuinely astounded that you think it's suitable to even mention the two incidents in the same sentence.

[Kizzy]

... Perhaps that's because receiving lengthy, deserved prison sentences is absolutely not tantamount to the death penalty? I'm genuinely astounded that you think it's suitable to even mention the two incidents in the same sentence.

Why? they both smuggled over a million pounds worth of drugs and were sentenced outside of the UK...
Lindsey Sandiford was expected to receive around 15yrs but was it seemed made an example of as the country tries to rid itself as a destination for drug trafficking.
Right of wrong we can't expect other countries to sentence as we would, it is barbaric but they felt it proportionate.
These girls are lucky they only face 25yrs.

[Ammi]

..I think the sympathies though were because of the death sentence involved and not because she didn't deserve to be sentenced for a crime...and it wasn't the usual sentence for that crime even for the country involved, it's perfectly understandable that some people will have sympathy/strong feelings about a human life being distinguished...

[Livia]

I remember the "grandmother" who smuggled drugs and as I recall I, like a lot of people, thought she pretty much got what she deserved. She was a drug smuggler, no one can say they don't know the dangers of drug smuggling, especially in places like South American or the Far East. If people don't understand the dangers they have no business applying for a passport.

[Redway]

Why? they both smuggled over a million pounds worth of drugs and were sentenced outside of the UK...
Lindsey Sandiford was expected to receive around 15yrs but was it seemed made an example of as the country tries to rid itself as a destination for drug trafficking.
Right of wrong we can't expect other countries to sentence as we would, it is barbaric but they felt it proportionate.
These girls are lucky they only face 25yrs.

I was under the impression that the former case had been sentenced to death, no? If she indeed received roughly 15 years then fair enough but if not it's completely pointless comparing them.

[Kizzy]

I was under the impression that the former case had been sentenced to death, no? If she indeed received roughly 15 years then fair enough but if not it's completely pointless comparing them.

Yes she has, and these girls are lucky they didn't share the same fate.
If you think it's pointless that's up to you, I feel there is a comparison to be made as I pointed out in my previous posts.

[arista]

There Cases in Peru of this scottish and northern irish lass
can take a long time to come up.

[DanaC]

Stupid thing to do. Silly girls. But those kinds of sentences have always seemed entirely disproportionate for the offence to me.

I can imagine doing something that stupid when i was that age, had I found myself in a position to do so.

I don't think they deserve to serve 15 or 25 years for what they've done. I don't think any of the mules do. My heart absolutely breaks for them and their families. A stupid decision and their lives are now effectively over. I look at them, and I can see my two young nieces standing in their place.

[Kizzy]

You have shocked me there dana, very honest of you to admit as it is haha!
Hedonism is no excuse for criminal behaviour, There is no merit in excusing the behaviour of teens they are as aware of what is right and wrong.
Everyone has choices young and old, I have a daughter the same age and I myself was once that age and there's no way this would have even crossed my mind as acceptable.
We're not an exception I'm sure?
Drugs ruin lives, they kill people.... money from drugs funds terrorism and human trafficking, the seriousness of the wider implications reflects in sentencing.

[DanaC]

Oh I was well and truly off the rails in my late teens. Like a lot of people, I managed to get to the other side without paying a horrible price for my stupidity.

And turned into the upstanding *cough* citizen I am today :p

I realise drugs ruin lives. But personally, I think the bulk of that harm is directly or indirectly attributable to their illegality.

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/18/article-2396773-1B59D8DB000005DC-729_634x575.jpg

[Carefree: Melissa Reid
and Michaella McCollum Connolly happily pose
on a balcony in Peru where they are accused
of smuggling cocaine]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2396773/Peru-drugs-duo-days-arrest-pictured-smiling-beach-beer-like-tourists.html#ixzz2cOXInkud



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/18/article-2396773-1B59D80F000005DC-458_634x536.jpg


This week they are expected to
face the courts

[Jords]

I think its unecessary.

[Cherie]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/18/article-2396773-1B59D8DB000005DC-729_634x575.jpg

[Carefree: Melissa Reid
and Michaella McCollum Connolly happily pose
on a balcony in Peru where they are accused
of smuggling cocaine]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2396773/Peru-drugs-duo-days-arrest-pictured-smiling-beach-beer-like-tourists.html#ixzz2cOXInkud



http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/18/article-2396773-1B59D80F000005DC-458_634x536.jpg


This week they are expected to
face the courts


I thought they said they were kidnapped taken to Morocco and then on to Peru. Story unravelling.

[arista]

I thought they said they were kidnapped taken to Morocco and then on to Peru. Story unravelling.



They are not clear on their story
Lawyers may take over the wording

[Nedusa]

I think after a few weeks in a Peruvian Jail they may start to change their plea and tell the truth as to why they tried to smuggle drugs into Europe. I think the reality of their situation may now be starting to hit home and they must surely realise they have NO chance of getting away with this crime. They should accept their guilt, plead guilty with mitigation and hope for the best. They might only get 5 years or less

[Z]

Just silly young girls taking the 'party' one step too far. Hope they learn a serious lesson from this.

[arista]

Just silly young girls taking the 'party' one step too far. Hope they learn a serious lesson from this.


Yes life changed forever



Greed Destroyed their Future

[Z]

I'm gonna ask my friend's sister (same age as the one from Scotland from the same village) what she thinks about it all when I see her next month

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/21/article-2397844-1B62AD5D000005DC-770_634x758.jpg
[Fragile: Looking harassed and terrified, Melissa Reid and
Michaella McCollum Connolly, both 20, are led away from the state
prosecutor's office for their case to be heard
at the palace of justice in Callao, north Lima, Peru]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2397844/Drug-mules-Melissa-Reid-Michaella-McCollum-Connolly-formally-charged-Peru-cocaine-trafficking.html#ixzz2caJZeBL1


They were charged.

[Verbal]

The pair of them have had it. Pleading guilty, even if by some miracle they aren't, is the best thing they can do.

[thesheriff443]

they are guilty, I have no sympathy for them.

[DanaC]

They really should plead guilty. And I do have sympathy for them. Not saying I think they should get away with it. They broke the laws of a country that will lock them up for a long time for being a mule, even for a first offence.

But I do have sympathy for them. And for their families.

[Livia]

I don't really have any sympathy for them. Had they got away with it they'd be off now living the highlife on the proceeds of their crime and the drugs they smuggled would have been sold on for a profit by criminals... that's not even considering the people who take the drugs.

If they're such silly and naive young girls what were they doing out in the world on their own? I don't know many people who don't understand the what it would mean to be caught with drugs anywhere.

And on a really trivial side note, that is the worst hairstyle on the dark haired girl that I've seen for a long time.

[DanaC]

Well at 19 people often are out in the world regardless* of how grownup they may actually be :p

I don't think theyre naive exactly. Just young and still filled with that sense of invicibility that lots of youngsters have.

I've said before on here that the brain is still forming until into the 20s. The last part of the brain to devlop is the part that allows true comprehension of the impact of one's actions.

Not saying theyre not guilty or should get some kind of free pass because of it. But i can imagine at their age floating along on a wave of excitement without ever really considering the consequences of my actions. So, I have sympathy for the trouble they have created for themelves.

I also have sympathy for their parents. They must be besides themselve with worry and fear. The whole family.

When I said earlier I could imagine my nieces in their place, btw, I should stress I'd be very surprised if either of them ever did anything this stupid. They're pretty together girls. But sometimes life throws a curveball and I can't help imagining what this would do to my brother if it was his girl over there. And i can't help looking at those girls and seeing them as kids, just as i see my nieces as kids. Barely into adulthood, still so young in so many ways.

*I was sooo tempted to say irregardless just then :p

[arista]

I don't really have any sympathy for them. Had they got away with it they'd be off now living the highlife on the proceeds of their crime and the drugs they smuggled would have been sold on for a profit by criminals... that's not even considering the people who take the drugs.

If they're such silly and naive young girls what were they doing out in the world on their own? I don't know many people who don't understand the what it would mean to be caught with drugs anywhere.

And on a really trivial side note, that is the worst hairstyle on the dark haired girl that I've seen for a long time.


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/08/21/article-2397844-1B62B6C0000005DC-254_634x593.jpg

[Livia]

*I was sooo tempted to say irregardless just then :p

LOL...Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to use 'irregardless' in a sentence at least three times this week.

I get what you mean, especially about your nieces. I have three nieces aged 5, 8 and 10 and I adore them. It must be awful for the families of these girls and I do feel a sense of sympathy for the families, but 19 is past the age of majority, it's older than the youngest soldier fighting in Afghanistan, and it wasn't a bit of puff for personal use they were attempting to bring in, it was cocaine. I hope this story is shown a lot and I hope it makes an impression on anyone thinking about doing the same.

Something that's struck me for a while is, it seems that years ago when my parents were young, at 19 you were expected to be mature, to hold down a job, to step up to the plate. Now, young people have all kinds of information at their fingertips, they're sexualised at an early age, they're showered with material possessions, they're given much more freedom than previous generations, and yet we assume they're not "fully cooked" to use a Judge Judy phrase. It's an enigma to me, especially as so many of the young people I know are far more aware and mature than a lot of the older generation. But I suppose this is a totally different discussion.

[Jesus.]

I've often thought I would do if put in that situation, and my approach would be:

If they have my family hostage, then I'd go through with the smuggling and have to take my chances. Most people must get through, otherwise they wouldn't be risking so much drug confiscation.

If they didn't have my family, then I'd find out where the British embassy is, go there straight away and tell them everything - they'd keep you safe and get you home.

If they dropped me off at the airport, then I'd find a british pilot, and ask him wtf to do. He'll probably take you off the airport floor and arrange for someone from the embassy to come and collect you.

[Nedusa]

Well at 19 people often are out in the world regardless* of how grownup they may actually be :p

I don't think theyre naive exactly. Just young and still filled with that sense of invicibility that lots of youngsters have.

I've said before on here that the brain is still forming until into the 20s. The last part of the brain to devlop is the part that allows true comprehension of the impact of one's actions.

Not saying theyre not guilty or should get some kind of free pass because of it. But i can imagine at their age floating along on a wave of excitement without ever really considering the consequences of my actions. So, I have sympathy for the trouble they have created for themelves.

I also have sympathy for their parents. They must be besides themselve with worry and fear. The whole family.

When I said earlier I could imagine my nieces in their place, btw, I should stress I'd be very surprised if either of them ever did anything this stupid. They're pretty together girls. But sometimes life throws a curveball and I can't help imagining what this would do to my brother if it was his girl over there. And i can't help looking at those girls and seeing them as kids, just as i see my nieces as kids. Barely into adulthood, still so young in so many ways.

*I was sooo tempted to say irregardless just then :p

I agree with the sentiment contained in your post, I remember the stupid things I got up to in my youth and looking back now I was lucky to escape without serious consequences. When we are young we don't tend to debate or worry about the consequences of actions happy just to carry on without too much thought.

These young women have for whatever reason (money,drugs, romantic promises, glitzy lifestyle etc...) have decided to commit a serious criminal offence and now their lives are changed forever... whether they plead guilty or not guilty it matters not they will be rotting in a Peruvian prison for a long long time to come. They will eventually be released but their young lives are over. The horrific experience they will now have to endure for perhaps up to 10 years or more will scar them forever.

I do feel some sympathy for them BUT they chose to go down this path. It was suggested that first time drug smugglers should receive much much lighter sentences but to be honest that would not act as a deterrent in fact it could even have the opposite effect by encouraging Drug gangs to convince even more young women like these two to take a similar risk.

No I'm afraid they are now just another couple of lost souls paying a very heavy price for a stupid and reckless action. A month or year from now this story will be forgotten but they will both still be chained up in a small dirty cell in dark faceless prison....!!!!

[Verbal]

In the Daily Mail comments section of this story:

This is going to sound awful, but... Does anyone know where the dark haired ones jacket is from?

Then further up

If anyone is interested... Thanks to some helpful answers, I've now ordered the jacket off the Zara website (TRF) collection yay :D - Lady, London, 20/08/2013 19:46............................................, ..................,,Nice bit of advertising for Zara! Funny isn't it how one woman's pain can be another's gain! Strange world we live in.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2397844/Peru-drugs-bust-girls-Melissa-Reid-Michaella-McCollum-Connolly-taste-jail-life-case-starts.html

I have no words

[Livia]

In the Daily Mail comments section of this story:

Then further up

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2397844/Peru-drugs-bust-girls-Melissa-Reid-Michaella-McCollum-Connolly-taste-jail-life-case-starts.html

I have no words

"Shallow" seems too insignificant a word...

[Z]

So blatantly guilty. I feel sorry for them because it's very clear that they didn't think about the actual consequences of what they were doing, they just got caught up in the wild party atmosphere of Ibiza and got offered a 5 figure sum and a free holiday to go smuggle some drugs to keep the party going... they didn't even think about the reality of smuggling £1.5 million's worth of cocaine into Europe and all the lives they would touch and possibly ruin as a result. The sad thing is that despite the fact they were caught, this won't deter young people from doing this all the time. They say that for every time someone gets caught, a dozen people get away with it. They probably knew that the odds were on their side; they have that sense of invincibility that comes with feeling cool, confident and happy with yourself and your life... that's why they didn't seem too bothered to begin with when they were first arrested... now you can see the fear on their faces, now that it's "oh ****, 15 years?!"

[Kizzy]

Well at 19 people often are out in the world regardless* of how grownup they may actually be :p

I don't think theyre naive exactly. Just young and still filled with that sense of invicibility that lots of youngsters have.

I've said before on here that the brain is still forming until into the 20s. The last part of the brain to devlop is the part that allows true comprehension of the impact of one's actions.

Not saying theyre not guilty or should get some kind of free pass because of it. But i can imagine at their age floating along on a wave of excitement without ever really considering the consequences of my actions. So, I have sympathy for the trouble they have created for themelves.

I also have sympathy for their parents. They must be besides themselve with worry and fear. The whole family.

When I said earlier I could imagine my nieces in their place, btw, I should stress I'd be very surprised if either of them ever did anything this stupid. They're pretty together girls. But sometimes life throws a curveball and I can't help imagining what this would do to my brother if it was his girl over there. And i can't help looking at those girls and seeing them as kids, just as i see my nieces as kids. Barely into adulthood, still so young in so many ways.

*I was sooo tempted to say irregardless just then :p

How could anyone know that for certain?

[arista]

One of them has agreed to plead Guilty
to get a sentence close to 7 or 8 years.

Thats the best thing to do.

Ref: SkyNewsHD


As for their parents saying they are angels
I am sorry you do not know your own demon daughters

[Ammi]

..I saw that this morning..I thought it said that the sentence would be reduced to 3 years...

[Verbal]

One of them has agreed to plead Guilty
to get a sentence close to 7 or 8 years.

Thats the best thing to do.

Ref: SkyNewsHD


As for their parents saying they are angels
I am sorry you do not know your own demon daughters

Demon daughters? Thats a bit OTT. They're naive, stupid and opportunistic and will pay for that for most of their 20s. But they're far from evil.

[arista]

Demon daughters? Thats a bit OTT. They're naive, stupid and opportunistic and will pay for that for most of their 20s. But they're far from evil.




No Drugs like that are done by Killing people at times



They knew the Full risks
and the drug owners knew as well.

[arista]

..I saw that this morning..I thought it said that the sentence would be reduced to 3 years...


No 7 years
which is most fair

[Ammi]

...yeah, I think one of the families were hoping they'd be released in around 2/3 years but I don't know if reduced prison terms will apply like they often do in the UK...

[DanaC]

How could anyone know that for certain?


There have been quite a few studies into this. The last part of the brain to develop fully is the pre-frontal cortex. This is the part of the brain which is responsible for the complex processing of information, ranging from making judgments, to controlling impulses, foreseeing consequences, and setting goals and plans.

It used to be thought that the brain was mature in adolescence. More recent studies have shown that it can take into the early 20s for this part of the brain to fully mature.

[DanaC]

Hopefully with a guilty plea the court will show some mercy given their relative youth and impose a sentence of less than 10 years.

I think this is the best they can hope for really.

Still a horrible thing to face but at least they would get out whilst still quite young (late 20s / early 30s).

[arista]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/british-women-accused-of-smuggling-15m-of-cocaine-out-of-peru--to-plead-guilty-8817687.html

[Nedusa]

Looks like one of these women has plea bargained a sentence of 7 years...

Plenty of time to regret ever getting involved in a scheme like this ..!!

[Ninastar]

I remember the "grandmother" who smuggled drugs and as I recall I, like a lot of people, thought she pretty much got what she deserved. She was a drug smuggler, no one can say they don't know the dangers of drug smuggling, especially in places like South American or the Far East. If people don't understand the dangers they have no business applying for a passport.

once again I 100% agree with you.

[Kizzy]

There have been quite a few studies into this. The last part of the brain to develop fully is the pre-frontal cortex. This is the part of the brain which is responsible for the complex processing of information, ranging from making judgments, to controlling impulses, foreseeing consequences, and setting goals and plans.

It used to be thought that the brain was mature in adolescence. More recent studies have shown that it can take into the early 20s for this part of the brain to fully mature.

Are there any links to these studies?
I have to say I feel this is a terrible suggestion, to say that nobody
under the age of 25 is capable of rational thought is rather sad.
There are young people who are more than capable of making excellent judgements, controlling their impulses and are forward thinking. Choosing A levels and career goals are plans and goals that all university students are fully focussed on,this flies in the face of these studies as far as I can see.

[arista]

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/01/article-2440274-1870AB3600000578-430_634x445.jpg
Grilling: Melissa Reid, left, and Michaella McCollum, right,
pleaded guilty to drug smuggling last week

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2440274/Peru-Two-return-court.html#ixzz2gYcuuQNf

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/01/article-2440274-186F9FFB00000578-175_634x609.jpg
[Michaella McCollum, from Northern Ireland,
ditched her signature bun for loose and
straightened hair when she attended
a closed court hearing at 11am Peru time]

[Cherie]

Shouldn't this be in the beauty section.? Ditched her signature bun..lol they will have taken away her hairpins in case she gets stabbed.