Michaella McCollum Connolly and Melissa Reid are currently spending their days in a maximum security prison in Peru. The pair were reportedly in possession of 11kg of cocaine with a value of R23 million according to police and were attempting to smuggle their loot to Spain. Police spokesperson said:

Police searched the women’s luggage. They found 18 packets of food products with cocaine, which weighed 5.78 kilos, in Melissa Reid’s suitcase.

Sixteen packets with cocaine weighing 5.810 kilos were found in Michaella McCollum’s suitcases.

Left, Melissa Reid and right Michaella McCollum Connolly.

The women are protesting their innocence by starving themselves while they sit in their jail cell. Reports suggest that the girls are involved in a South American cartel. According to one of the guards:

Ever since they arrived both have refused to eat or drink. They have starved themselves while saying they are innocent. If they are found guilty they will see what hell is really like.

One has gone to pieces. She is hysterical. She keeps crying saying there has been a huge mistake. They are both starting to realise just how serious this is.

Their parents were under the impression that they were in Ibiza working for the summer. Reid’s mother Debra said:

As far as we knew, Melissa was in Ibiza. That is where she has been. She met the other girl in Ibiza. I don’t know anything else about her.

Connolly and Reid are aged 20 and 19 respectively, and could remain in jail for as long as a year while they await trial. There are fears the girls may have been enlisted as drug mules for a drug gang in Ibiza. If they are convicted they will probably be sent to a women’s jail called Santa Monica (main image). The jail is riddled with HIV and TB.

[Source: DailyMail]