Sri Lankan authorities arrested 21-year-old British national Charlotte May Lee after allegedly finding 46kg of a synthetic drug in her luggage at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo.
According to officials, Lee, from south London, had packed her bags with large quantities of kush, a synthetic drug commonly used in parts of West Africa. They described the incident as the airport’s largest seizure of the substance to date. The drug’s estimated street value is around £1.5 million ($3.3 million). Interestingly, some reports claim it may contain human bone material.
Lee claims innocence and denies knowledge of the drugs
Lee, a former flight attendant, maintains that she had no idea the drugs were in her possession. She believes someone planted them in her luggage without her knowledge. If convicted, however, she could face up to 25 years in prison.
Currently, authorities are holding her in Negombo, a city north of Colombo. Reports state that she is sleeping on a concrete floor and facing harsh conditions. Her legal team visits her daily and confirms that she remains in contact with her family.
Previously, Lee had been in Bangkok. She travelled to Sri Lanka because her visa was about to expire. According to her account, she packed her suitcase the night before the flight and did not inspect it again. In an interview with MailOnline, she stated, “I know who did it,” although she did not reveal any names. Furthermore, she said she had never seen the drugs before and had expected the bag to contain only her personal belongings.
Concerns grow over kush trafficking
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan customs officials have reported a rise in drug smuggling cases involving passengers from Bangkok. A senior officer described the trend as a growing nuisance. Around the same time as Lee’s arrest, another passenger from Bangkok was detained in a different country under similar suspicion.
Kush has become a serious health concern in parts of West Africa. In Sierra Leone, for example, the drug is linked to several deaths each week, particularly among men aged 18 to 25. Users have been observed collapsing, wandering into roads, and suffering head injuries.
In response, Sierra Leone’s government has tightened cemetery security to prevent grave tampering. Officials suspect that human bones may be used in the drug’s production. In 2024, President Julius Maada Bio declared a state of emergency and described the issue as a national crisis.
Another British woman arrested abroad
In a related case, another British woman, Bella Culley, aged 18 from Billingham in County Durham, was recently arrested in Georgia. Authorities allege that she attempted to smuggle 12kg of cannabis and 2kg of hashish into the country.
Investigators are currently working to trace the origin of the drugs found in her luggage. As with Lee’s case, the potential consequences are severe. If found guilty, Culley could face a sentence of up to 20 years or possibly life imprisonment.
