Ex-Flight Attendant in Sri Lanka Drug Smuggling Bust

Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old former British flight attendant, was arrested at Colombo's Bandaranaike Airport in Sri Lanka for allegedly smuggling over 100 pounds (about 45-46 kg) of 'kush,' a deadly synthetic drug originating in West Africa and reportedly made with human bones. Authorities estimate the street value of the seized drugs at $3.3 million, marking the largest such bust in Sri Lankan history. Lee maintains her innocence, claiming the drugs were planted in her luggage while she was in Thailand awaiting a visa renewal. She is currently held in harsh prison conditions and has been allowed contact with her family, with daily support from her lawyer. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison. Her arrest forms part of a broader crackdown on international drug smuggling in Sri Lanka, with other recent arrests involving suspects from India and Thailand.