British Woman Claims Drugs Were Planted in Sri Lanka Arrest

Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old woman from Surrey, is currently being held in a Sri Lankan prison after being arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 46kg of synthetic cannabis, worth £1.2 million. She claims that the drugs were planted in her luggage by dealers and that she was unaware of the illegal substances. Charlotte says her bags were left unattended in a hotel during a night out in Bangkok, raising suspicions that she may have been targeted as part of a larger trafficking operation. Facing a potential 25-year prison sentence under Sri Lankan drug laws, Charlotte’s situation has drawn international attention.

Describing the appalling conditions of her detention, Charlotte reports struggling with the harsh realities of life in Sri Lanka’s Negombo Prison. She states that she has not eaten for two days because the food is too spicy and that she has been denied vital medication for her ADHD. In addition, she is sleeping on a concrete floor and lacks access to basic healthcare. Her family and friends have expressed grave concerns about her wellbeing, with many fearing that she is not receiving the necessary support or legal assistance to navigate her complex situation.

The case has sparked broader concerns about the exploitation of young travelers by criminal gangs, with Charlotte’s arrest mirroring the case of another British woman, Bella Culley, who was arrested under similar circumstances in Georgia. Both women traveled from Bangkok and met a “mystery man,” fueling suspicions of a coordinated trafficking network targeting British backpackers. Investigations into potential links between these cases are ongoing, and the British embassy has visited Charlotte, but she remains distressed and uncertain about her future.