UK Woman, 21, Arrested in Sri Lanka for Smuggling Dangerous Drug Made from Human Bones
A 21-year-old former flight attendant from the UK is facing a potential 25-year prison sentence in Sri Lanka after being accused of smuggling over 100 pounds (about 45 kg) of a lethal synthetic drug known as "kush." This drug, which contains various toxic substances, primarily consists of ground human bones. Charlotte May Lee, hailing from south London, was apprehended earlier this month at Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo. Reports indicate that she was found with suitcases filled with "kush," a drug that has emerged from West Africa and is responsible for an estimated dozen deaths each week in Sierra Leone. Lee asserts that the drugs were secretly placed in her luggage without her consent.
According to the BBC, Ms. Lee has asserted that the drug stash, valued at approximately $3.3 million (around Rs 28 crore), was secretly placed in her suitcases without her consent. She is currently detained in a jail north of Colombo, where she sleeps on a concrete floor. Although she has been permitted to contact her family, if convicted, she could face a prison sentence of up to 25 years.
A senior officer from the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit stated that the seizure at Colombo's Bandaranaike Airport is the largest cache of kush ever found at the airport.
Ms. Lee's lawyer, Sampath Perera, informed the BBC that his team visits her daily in the Negombo prison to offer support and ensure her well-being. Mr. Perera explained that the 21-year-old had been working in Thailand but had to leave when her 30-day visa was about to expire. She then opted to take a three-hour flight to Sri Lanka while awaiting the renewal of her Thai visa.
"I had never encountered those drugs before. I was completely caught off guard when they stopped me at the airport. I thought my luggage would just contain my belongings," Ms. Lee told the Daily Mail. She suggested that she knew who had "planted" the drugs in her suitcases but declined to reveal their identity. "They must have put it there. I know who did it," she stated.
The drug, known as "kush," is composed of various toxic substances, with one of its primary ingredients being ground human bone. It first appeared in West Africa about seven years ago and produces a hypnotic high that can last for several hours. The drug has become a significant issue, leading dealers to reportedly become grave robbers, breaking into thousands of tombs to obtain skeletons to meet the growing demand.
Last year, the president of Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency in response to the growing problem of kush abuse. "Our country is currently facing an existential threat due to the devastating effects of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the synthetic drug Kush," stated President Julius Maada Bio at that time.
He noted that there had been "increasing fatalities" among users and announced the formation of a task force aimed at eliminating the drug. This initiative will establish centers in every district, which will be "adequately staffed by trained professionals to provide care and support for individuals struggling with drug addiction," he explained.
