British drug mule Melissa Reid is set to be freed tonight after three years in a Peruvian prison. The 22 year old was jailed alongside Michaella McCollum, 23, after they were caught trying to smuggle £1.5 million of cocaine from Peru to Spain in 2013.
McCollum was freed in March due to new legislation but had to remain in Peru on parole, while Ried will return to the UK as a free woman.
Known as the “Peru Two”, the women were caught at Peru’s Lima airport trying to board a flight with 22kg of cocaine in food packets hidden in their bags. Subtle. They argued they were forced into carrying the drugs but later pleaded guilty to the charges, leaving them sentenced to six years and eight months in Peruvian prison.
They both served part of their sentences at Ancon II prison, where McCollum was apparently stuck in a cell with 30 other prisoners, with poor hygiene and toilet facilities.