Billy Reid describes how the arrest and imprisonment of daughter Melissa's has impacted family life for a government campaign
The dad of one of the Peru two has warned against the dangers of smuggling in a new video for the "Mules are fools, Don’t be an ass’’ campaign.
Billy Reid describes the devastation the arrest and imprisonment of daughter Melissa has had on the family.
Melissa, who was 17-year-old when arrested in Peru, was jailed for just under seven years after admitting trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million to Spain from the South American country.
Now the Scots girl’s dad - who has visited her in jail in Lima - has taken part in the film for the the UK Foreign Office’s “Mules are fools, Don’t be an ass’’ campaign.
In a video foe the campaign Mr Reid, who has visited his daughter in a Lima prison, says: “It’s had a tremendous impact on us both emotionally and financially.
“It’s horrendous to see your daughter in handcuffs and the living conditions that she has to put up with. Melissa has spent her own 20th and 21st birthdays in prison in Peru.
“She missed the significant event of her only brother’s wedding. Events such as Christmas are non-existent for us.
"There’ll be no celebrations in our house, there’ll be no Christmas tree until we get her back home.”
Reid, from Lenzie, Near Glagsow was caught alongside Michaella McCollum from Tyrone last year at Lima airport with 24lb of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage.
They were working on the Spanish party island of Ibiza when they claimed Colombian drug lords who kidnapped them at gunpoint forced them to board a flight with the drugs, but they later admitted their crime and struck a behind-closed-doors plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and charity Prisoners Abroad said the new campaign was aimed at “highlighting the consequences of the use, possession and smuggling of drugs in countries around the world”.
In the 2013-2014 year, 717 British nationals were arrested abroad for drug-related offences, an increase on the previous year, the Daily Record reports.
James Duddridge, minister for consular affairs, said: “When it comes to drugs our message is clear - don’t take risks, it is never worth it. You only have one life so don’t waste it.
“The consequences can be devastating for both you and your family and so it is important to be familiar with the local laws. Penalties and sentences vary considerably around the world and the FCO cannot interfere in another country’s legal system. So stay safe and do not break the law.”
Pauline Crowe, chief executive of Prisoners Abroad, said: “We urge people to consider the severe consequences of overseas imprisonment; from unsanitary conditions that breed disease and infection, to a severe shortage of food, clean water and the most basic of medical care.
“Overseas laws can be far harsher than in the UK and committing a drugs crime, whether intentionally or not, could result in a lengthy sentence in life-threatening conditions.”
