Peru Two

The Peru Two were 20 year old women (Michaella McCollum Connolly from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, and Melissa Reid from Lenzie, Scotland) who were arrested on 6 August 2013 on suspicion of drug smuggling at Jorge Chávez International Airport, Lima, Peru, after their luggage was found to contain 11 kg of cocaine.[1]

Peru Two
Born
Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid

Ireland
Known forDrug smuggling
Criminal statusBoth discharged. McCollum and Reid returned home to Ireland and Scotland respectively
MotiveFinancial
Conviction(s)yes
Criminal chargesmuggling cocaine
Penalty6 years, 8 months

They initially claimed they had been coerced by an armed gang but subsequently pleaded guilty. On 17 December 2013, the pair were sentenced to six years and eight months imprisonment.[2] In the Ancón 2 prison, they took up coveted training positions in beauty therapy in a bid to become hair stylists.[3]

In early 2016, both women sought to return to the United Kingdom. McCollum applied to be freed on parole,[4] and was released on 31 March 2016, with the prospect of having to remain in Peru for up to six years.[5][6] In April, the Peruvian authorities agreed to expel Reid from the country:[7] she was released from prison on 21 June and immediately returned to Britain, arriving at Glasgow airport the following day.[8] McCollum returned to Europe two months later, arriving at Dublin airport in the Republic of Ireland on 13 August 2016.

The women have received extensive press coverage in Peru, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and other countries since their arrest. They were featured on the Channel 4 documentary Brits Behind Bars: Cocaine Smugglers, which aired on 10 October 2015, and detailed how drug mules are trained.[9]

Michaella McCollum has written a book about her experiences entitled You’ll Never See Daylight Again.[10]

References
  1. "Fresh claims the 'Peru Two' arrest was a diversion for other drug mules". Irish Central. 6 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. McDonald, Henry (17 December 2013). "British drug mules jailed for more than six years in Peru". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  3. "Peru Two Take up Beauty Therapy in the Ancon 2 Prison". Mirror. 7 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. "Peru drug mule Michaelle McCollum could face four-year wait to return home". Mirror. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. "Michaella McCollum Connolly released on parole from jail in Peru". Irish Mirror. 1 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  6. "One Of The 'Peru Two' British Drug Smugglers Has Been Released". Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  7. "Peru drugs mule Melissa Reid to return to UK very soon". The Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 November 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Peru Two Featured in New Television Documentary Brits Behind Bars". Mirror. 10 August 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  10. "Michaella McCollum". Extra.ie. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
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