'Peru Two' Michaella Connolly and Melissa Reid get six years and eight months each for trafficking cocaine

Mike Gallagher

Dec 17, 2013 - 21:23

Dec 17, 2013 - 21:25

0 1.4k

'Peru Two' Michaella Connolly and Melissa Reid get six years and eight months each for trafficking cocaine

Sentenced...Michaella McCollum Connolly, left, and Melissa Reid sit in a court in Peru as drug-trafficking charges are laid against them. Picture: AP Source: AP

A COURT in Peru has jailed an Irish and a British woman for six years and eight months each for trafficking cocaine, their lawyer said.

Michaella Connolly, from Ireland, and Melissa Reid, both 20, were arrested last August in Lima inteational airport as they were trying to leave for Spain.

The pair pleaded guilty in September to attempting to smuggle just over 11 kilos of cocaine out of Peru.

The young women had initially denied guilt, claiming they had been coerced into smuggling by a shady inteational cartel after being kidnapped.

But they later changed their story stating they \"knew they were going to transport drugs, and that they regret having participated in such an act,\" according to a previous court press release.

$\"Peru$

Smuggled...In this Aug. 6, 2013 photo released by Peru's National police, food packages containing cocaine and found in the luggage of Michaella Connolly and Melissa Reid found after they were detained at the airport in Lima, Peru. Picture: AP

$\"Peru$

Arrested...An Aug. 6, 2013 police photo shows Michaella Connolly, of Ireland, left, and Melissa Reid, of Britain, with their luggage after being detained at the airport in Lima. Picture: AP/Peru National Police