Peru Two
| Peru Two | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid |
| Residence | Peru |
| Nationality |
Irish (McCollum)[1] British (Reid) |
| Known for | drug smuggling |
| Criminal charge | smuggling cocaine |
| Criminal penalty | 6 years, 8 months |
| Criminal status | McCollum on parole in Peru, Reid in a Peruvian prison |
| Motive | Financial, fear |
| Conviction(s) | yes |
| Killings | |
| Country | Peru |
| Location(s) | Lima |
The Peru Two are two women, Michaella McCollum Connolly from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, and Melissa Reid from Glasgow, Scotland, both 20 when they were arrested on 6 August, 2013 for drug smuggling at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, after their luggage was found to contain 11 kg of cocaine.[2]
They initially claimed they had been forced to carry the drugs by an armed gang but subsequently pleaded guilty to drug smuggling. On 17 December 2013, the pair were sentenced to 6 years and eight months in prison.[3]
McCollum was released on parole on March 31, 2016 but will have to remain in Peru for up to six years.[4][5] Reid remains in prison but hopes to be transferred to a Scottish jail to serve the remainder of her sentence.[6]
The duo have received extensive press in Peru, the United Kingdom, Ireland and also around the world since their arrest. They took up coveted positions training in beauty therapy in a bid to become hair stylists in the Ancon 2 prison.[7]
The pair were featured on the Channel 4 documentary Brits Behind Bars: Cocaine Smugglers, which aired on 10 October, 2015. The show detailed how drug mules are trained.[8]
In early 2016, both girls made attempts to return to the United Kingdom, with Michaella applying to be freed on parole[9] and Peruvian authorities agreeing to expel Melissa from the country in April 2016.[10]
References
- ↑ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/michaella-mccollum-to-be-moved-to-north-jail-1.1889099
- ↑ "Fresh claims the ‘Peru Two’ arrest was a diversion for other drug mules". Irish Central. September 6, 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ McDonald, Henry (17 December 2013). "British drug mules jailed for more than six years in Peru". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
- ↑ Michaella McCollum Connolly released on parole from jail in Peru Published by the Irish Mirror, April 1, 2016
- ↑ "One Of The 'Peru Two' British Drug Smugglers Has Been Released". Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ↑ "Drugs mule Michaella McCollum hoping to escape 'appalling' Peruvian jail to serve out sentence at home". evoke.ie. 7 January 2015.
- ↑ "Peru Two Take up Beauty Therapy in the Ancon 2 Prison". Mirror. 7 June 2015.
- ↑ "Peru Two Featured in New Television Documentary Brits Behind Bars". Mirror. 10 August 2015.
- ↑ "Peru drug mule Michaelle McCollum could face four-year wait to return home". Mirror. 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Peru drugs mule Melissa Reid to return to UK very soon". Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2016.