Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old woman from south London, never imagined that a simple trip abroad would turn into a harrowing battle for her freedom.
Instead of enjoying a new country, she now finds herself behind bars in Sri Lanka, accused of carrying a staggering £1.2 million worth of cannabis.
But Charlotte insists she is innocent and claims she has been set up.
Arrest at Colombo Airport Comes as a Shock
Charlotte was detained last week at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after authorities found 46 kilograms of a synthetic cannabis called ‘Kush’ hidden in her suitcase.
She had just arrived on a flight from Bangkok, where she had been working temporarily on a “booze cruise.” She was arrested on the spot and taken into custody, where she remains to this day.
From her cell in Negombo Prison, located north of Colombo, Charlotte spoke to MailOnline about her ordeal.
She said she had absolutely no idea there were drugs in her luggage.
“I had never seen them before,” she explained. “I thought my bags were just filled with clothes and personal stuff.
I had already packed the night before because my flight was really early.
I left my bags in the hotel room while I went out, and I didn’t check them again. They must have been planted.”
A Planned Short Trip Turns Into a Legal Nightmare
Charlotte shared that her trip to Sri Lanka was meant to be a short stop while she waited for her Thai visa to be renewed.
She had never been to Sri Lanka before and chose it because it was close—a quick three-hour flight from Bangkok.
“I thought I’d just come here for a little break while sorting out my visa,” she said.
“The people who put those drugs in my bags were supposed to meet me here. But now I’m stuck in this jail.”
Life Inside Negombo Prison Is Harsh and Isolating
Since her arrest, Charlotte has been through a tough time physically and emotionally.
She spent the first week in the Police Narcotics Bureau where conditions were grim.
“I had to sleep on a sofa full of bed bugs with a guard watching me all night,” she recalled.
After a week, she was transferred to Negombo Prison, where she remains confined to a small cell for 22 hours a day, only briefly allowed outside to eat or stretch.
The conditions at Negombo are difficult. Charlotte described the overcrowding, lack of basic comforts, and poor hygiene.
“There are no beds or blankets. I sleep on the concrete floor with just my jumper as a pillow.
The fan barely works, the TV hardly works, and I have only one set of clothes,” she said.
Worse still, she is not getting her ADHD medication and is only given strong sleeping tablets that knock her out.
The shower is just a bucket of water, and the food is so spicy she hasn’t eaten properly in two days.
Despite asking her lawyers for special food, nothing has changed.
“Some of the women speak English and share biscuits with me, which is kind,” Charlotte said, but she feels isolated and unable to communicate with her family or arrange visits.
Legal Battle and Uncertain Future
On Monday, Charlotte appeared in Negombo Magistrates Court, facing two charges: possession of illegal drugs and importing them into Sri Lanka.
She seemed overwhelmed and lost during the hearing, crying and alone without support.
A legal source told MailOnline that it is unclear what will happen next.
She may be moved to Welikada Prison in Colombo—the country’s biggest and most notorious jail, infamous for riots and horrific conditions.
Women there reportedly face some of the worst treatment, including overcrowded cells, rats, and even maggots in the food.
The Largest Drug Seizure Ever at Sri Lankan Airport
The 46kg haul of Kush was the largest drug seizure ever recorded at Bandaranaike Airport.
Officials said the drugs were destined for wealthy buyers in Sri Lanka.
Police footage shows the bags of drugs alongside detectives, with a British woman’s voice laughing in the background, though it’s not confirmed if it was Charlotte’s voice.
Support from the UK and Reactions from Friends
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is supporting Charlotte and is in contact with her family and Sri Lankan authorities.
Meanwhile, friends back home have expressed shock and disbelief.
One described her as a hardworking “nice girl” who would never be involved in drug smuggling.
“There were no red flags at all,” a close friend said.
Charlotte had been working as a cabin crew member for TUI on a short contract and was training to become an eyelash technician.
Her social media showed a lively young woman enjoying life—partying with friends, traveling, and celebrating her 21st birthday in Thailand with her sister.
A Disturbing Pattern of Young British Women Arrested Abroad
This case comes shortly after another British teenager, Bella May Culley, 18, was arrested in Georgia carrying cannabis.
Both women left Bangkok on the same day, sparking speculation about possible links between the cases.
However, Charlotte says she does not know Bella.
What Lies Ahead for Charlotte May Lee?
Charlotte’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly life can change.
From an exciting trip abroad to a harsh prison cell thousands of miles from home, she now faces the daunting possibility of decades behind bars if convicted.
The British Embassy warns her she faces a long wait before her case is resolved.