Peru Drugs Accused Plead Guilty

Two women accused of trying to smuggle £1.5m worth of drugs out of Peru have both pleaded guilty.

Michaella McCollum Connolly, 20, from Dungannon, and Melissa Reid, also 20 and from Scotland, were arrested last month at an airport in Lima as they prepared to board a flight to Spain.

When they were stopped, police found 24lb of cocaine – thought to be worth around £1.5m – hidden inside food packages in their luggage.

Both women previously admitted they knew the drugs were in their bags but said they had been forced to carry the packages at gunpoint.

On Tuesday, the pair entered a guilty plea and it is understood they have taken responsibility for their drug trafficking. They now could face more than six years in jail.

Speaking outside the court in Lima, lawyer Meyer Fishman said he would not comment until the two were sentenced, which could be as early as next week.

McCollum and Reid had the option of pleading guilty in exchange for a lower sentence.

The women, who had arrived in Ibiza at the beginning of the summer, were told that if they pled guilty, they could face a minimum of six years and eight months in prison with no eligibility for parole.

A spokesman for the court in Callao is quoted as saying: "They will automatically have a sixth off from the minimum jail sentence of eight years and will be sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

"Sentencing will take place on 1 October at a new hearing."

(JP/CD)