British air stewardess ‘drug mule’ is moved from Sri Lankan prison after deadly riots leave 30 people dead
Charlotte May Lee, a 22-year-old British former air stewardess, has reportedly been moved from Negombo prison to Kuliyappitiya after deadly gang riots at Negombo raised concerns for her safety. She has been detained in Sri Lanka for nearly 18 months over allegations that she tried to smuggle synthetic cannabis into the country, but has not been formally charged.
Sri Lankan authorities allege that 46kg of the drug, valued at £1.2 million, was found in her luggage at Colombo airport in May last year; Lee says she did not know it was there and claims it was planted during a trip to Bangkok. The July riot killed 30 people, including 10 prison officials and 20 inmates, at a jail built for 650 people that held about 2,400. Lee could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted, while her lawyer says securing appropriate legal representation is the priority.
In short
- Lee has reportedly been moved after deadly riots at Negombo prison.
- She denies knowing about the 46kg of cannabis allegedly found in her luggage.
- She has not been formally charged and could face 25 years if convicted.
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The case for
Sri Lankan authorities have a serious duty to investigate and prosecute large-scale drug smuggling, which can cause substantial harm; if the allegation is proved with reliable evidence and due process, a severe penalty may be defended as proportionate. Moving Lee after the deadly riot can also be seen as a necessary step to protect her safety while she remains in custody.
The case against
Lee denies knowing about the drugs and says they were planted, and she has not been formally charged despite nearly 18 months in detention; a fair system should test the evidence promptly and preserve the presumption of innocence. The overcrowding and deadly violence at Negombo also raise concerns about detention conditions and whether her continued confinement, and the threat of a very long sentence if convicted, are justified and proportionate.
Explained simply
Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, and Negombo is a town near its main international airport in Colombo. Charlotte May Lee, a British woman who used to work as an air stewardess, has been held in Sri Lanka since her arrest at the airport.
Sri Lankan authorities allege that cannabis was found in Lee’s luggage after a trip to Bangkok; she says she did not know it was there. She has not been formally charged, and the allegation has not been decided in court. The case matters because a conviction could bring a lengthy prison sentence, while her lawyer says arranging suitable legal representation is a priority.