ALLEGED drug mule Charlotte May Lee was besotted by a mystery man named Rocko, with her worried pals believing he may be able to help her defence.
It comes as prosecutors slammed the Brit’s claim that she didn’t know she was £1.2 million worth of kush into Sri Lanka – calling her story “made up”.
Sri Lanka PoliceCharlotte May Lee booking picture has been revealed[/caption]
Sri Lanka PoliceSri Lankan cops released a photo of the seized bags Charlotte was allegedly caught with[/caption]
Tim StewartCharlotte wept in court as she was formally remanded in prison in Sri Lanka[/caption]
Emotional Charlotte May Lee, 21, was told she may not be sentenced for another 12 months – and will face at least 20 years in a “hellish” jail if convicted.
She will plead “not guilty” at the next court hearing, which could take place in a fortnight, pals said.
Prosecutors will argue her experience as a stewardess with TUI proves she, “knew to check her luggage before a flight”.
According to her pals, Charlotte was besotted with a British guy in Thailand known as Rocko, who they believe could help her defence.
Charlotte had work done on her teeth, hair extensions fitted, and bought designer bags and trainers, before she headed from the UK to Thailand on holiday to hook up with the mystery man Rocko.
The part-time nail technician also told friends she has not been allowed medication and her cleaning regime is “having a glass of water poured over her head” behind bars.
A friend said: “She is struggling. We’re so scared for her. She is a mess.”
She can only use her phone while on remand in jail in Colombo for “emergency calls”.
An unknown British man was waiting for Charlotte when she arrived on a flight to Colombo from Thailand last Monday.
She was nicked when cops found a record amount of deadly super-strong synthetic cannabinoid kush.
Fears have been growing that Charlotte’s case could be linked to that of 18-year-old Bella May Culley, who was arrested in Georgia after allegedly being caught with a suitcase of cannabis.
Student nurse Bella had also told loved ones she was meeting a man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East during her travels.
The backpacker’s social media went on to show her clearly in the company of a male stranger – but he was never clearly pictured or named.
Her grandad William Culley, 80, revealed last Wednesday that she appears to have spent most of March in Thailand but also spent time in the Philippines with a man called “Ross or Russ”.
Charlotte, of Chipstead in Surrey, claimed the drugs found in her suitcase were “planted” on her.
Bella May Culley was reported missing while she was said to have been on holiday in Thailand
Cannabis was found wrapped in air-tight bags in Bella’s luggage, police said
MoyesCharlotte has been accused of trying to smuggle £1.2million worth of drugs into Sri Lanka[/caption]
Police HandoutThe drug stash Charlotte is accused of smuggling[/caption]
She said she had “no idea” that there were drugs in her luggage when she left Bangkok.
She claimed: “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.
“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.”
The young Brit believes the huge amount of illegal substances were planted in her luggage in a planned move by dangerous dealers in Southeast Asia.
And Charlotte said: “I know who did it.”
Kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug, has claimed the lives of thousands in West Africa where it first appeared in 2022 – and is spreading globally at an alarming rate.
The dirt-cheap drug is cut with an array of additives including acetone, the opioid tramadol and formalin, a toxic chemical commonly used to preserve bodies in mortuaries.
Tim StewartCharlotte formerly worked as an air stewardess[/caption]
Tim StewartCharlotte May Lee faces a long stay behind bars before she is sentenced[/caption]
If convicted the Brit could end up in the infamous Welikada Prison which is said to be ‘hell’ for female inmates especially
It comes as a friend of Charlotte’s revealed she is aware of the similar case of Bella Culley.
However, the two youngsters have never met, and Charlotte “doesn’t know if there is any connection” to her own ordeal.
Shocking images published by customs officials in Sri Lanka show how drugs had been allegedly stuffed into Charlotte’s luggage in large vacuum-sealed bags.
Bella’s alleged stash was also discovered in stacked, airtight packages pointing to a similar-style operation.
And in another twist, the two had individually told their loved ones they planned on meeting a mystery man during their travels.
Bella revealed to her family she was meeting an unknown man in the Philippines who had moved to the country from the North East.
Sri Lanka’s maximum security Welikada Prison is notoriously “hellish”, with 650 women in a ward designed for 150 cons.
Riots have erupted due to poor conditions, including the sweltering heat.
A former partner of Charlotte arrested in connection with allegations that he mistreated her is now expected to have his case dropped.
The tattooed muscle man released a video dancing a jig – seemingly celebrating her shocking arrest and the dramatic turn of events.
Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveals
By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter
Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: “Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while.
“There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand’s islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this.
“There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail.
“This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals.
“It’s easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa.
“Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods.
“They’re usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them.
“These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media.
“Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad.
“They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand.
“Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market.
“We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.”
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