All we know on 'drug smuggler' charlotte may lee's jail with spicy prison meal

FORMER TUI STEWARDESS, CHARLOTTE MAY LEE, HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN SRI LANKA AND ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING £1.2 MILLION OF DRUGS INTO THE COUNTRY – HERE IS EVERYTHING WE KNOW 11:11, 21 May

2025Updated 11:21, 21 May 2025 A Brit who was allegedly caught smuggling £1.2 million of drugs has opened up about the “hell” of a jail she is being kept in. She has claimed was forced to

sleep on a sofa “ridden with bed bugs” and struggles to even finish prison meals. Here is everything we know about Charlotte May Lee, 21, currently locked behind bars of the grim Negombo

Prison in Sri Lanka. The brit stands accused of smuggling a a powerful synthetic strain of cannabis into the country. The former stewardess was working on a "booze cruise" in

Thailand, but flew to Sri Lanka while she waited for her 30-day Thai visa to be renewed. However after touching down in Sri Lanka on Monday £1.2 million worth of cannabis was uncovered in

her suitcase. WHAT HAPPENED? The former TUI cabin crew member was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport, Sri Lanka, last week amid claims customs police discovered 46 kg of a drug known as kush.

Lee claims she had “no idea” the drugs were in her luggage and insists she was “set up”. "I had been in Bangkok the night before and had already packed my clothes because my flight was

really early. So I left my bags in the hotel room and headed for the night out. As they were already packed I didn't check them again in the morning," Lee claims. "I had never

seen them before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff..." WHO IS SHE? The part-time beautician,

21-year-old Charlotte May Lee hails from Coulsdon, south London and previous worked as a stewardess for TUI. Lee has claimed she was responsible for the contents on the suitcase and she

claims: "They must have planted it then. I know who did it." Lee is currently being detained at the grim Negombo Prison in Sri Lanka – previously a female prisoner pulled back the

lid on the conditions inside the prison and said: "We are treated as far less than human." "About 150 of us sleep in a cell designed for 75 people. An open drain infested with

rats runs the perimeter of the room. Recently, one of the inmates was bitten and had to be rushed to the hospital for an anti-rabies shot." WHAT ARE THE POLICE DOING? Lee is currently

being held at jail called Negombo Prison while her case proceeds through the courts. The Brit is expected to appear in court for the first time today – it is currently unknown if she will be

remanded formerly. Lee could face horrifying conditions in the maximum security Welikada Prison in the capital of Sri Lanka if found guilty of smuggling offences. A friend of Lee told the

Sun: "She’s been told if convicted, because of the size of the drugs haul, she’s looking at between 20 and 25 years in jail," the friend claimed "British Embassy staff warned

her she’s going nowhere soon." HOW BAD IS THE NEGOMBO PRISON? Negombo Prison is one of the largest in prison’s in Sri Lanka. While the majority of inmates being men – the prison

includes a smaller side wing for women. Speaking from her cell in Negombo Prison Lee has called the prison “hell” exposing more on everyday life while detained. "I am trying my best to

stay positive because what else can you do? But it is hard. I feel as though I have no human rights here," Lee said. "There are no beds, no blankets. And where you sleep is like a

long corridor with lots of other women. I am sleeping on a concrete floor - literally. All I have is my jumper as a pillow. "The shower is not really a shower, it's just a bucket

that you pour over yourself but they don't give you anything for that." While at the prison Lee has claimed she hasn’t eaten for two days due to the food being too spicy. The

former flight attendant elaborated on the food fiasco and has said she has told her lawyers about the issue. Despite this she claims the issue is yet to be resolved. “I have told my lawyers

- I have three of them - that I need different food. They said they would sort that but they still haven't. I don't know why. "Fortunately, some of the girls speak English and

have shared biscuits and things like that with me, which is nice." The Mirror reports Lee was initially held by the Police Narcotics Bureau during this time, she was forced to sleep on

a sofa 'ridden with bed bugs' while she was watched by guards. Lee has been accused of smuggling a narcotic known as kush, which is 25 times stronger than the opioid fentanyl and

often laced with hazardous chemicals. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING TO HELP? The foreign office have confirmed they are supporting the south London woman and said: “We are supporting a

British woman who has been arrested in Sri Lanka and are in contact with her family and the local authorities.” Article continues below The Government’s travel advice for Sri Lanka warns the

country has “severe penalties” for drug offenses as some people can be held without charge indefinitely. _FOR THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS AND STORIES FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE FROM THE DAILY STAR,

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