Peru drug suspects face 18 years

Relatives of one of two women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million out of Peru are preparing to visit her in prison.

The solicitor working for Michaella McCollum, 20, said: "Mr Peter Madden, lawyer for Michaella McCollum, is currently dealing with urgent matters pertaining to Michaella's situation in Peru and making arrangements for family visits."

The Northern Irish woman and fellow suspect, Scot Melissa Reid, both 20, face a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted, a Peruvian prosecutor's office in Callao, near Lima, has said.

Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid could face up to 18 years in prison if convicted, Peruvian prosecutors have warned.

The pair have re-appeared in court after being charged last night after 11kg of cocaine was allegedly found in their luggage at Lima airport two weeks ago.

Both women say they were forced to carry the shipment against their will. Peruvian prosecutors said the crime carried a maximum penalty of 15-18 years in prison.

In a statement, the ministry said: "It should be noted that the prosecution has gathered sufficient evidence to suspect the alleged responsibility of both people."

Read: British and Irish women held in Peru appear in court

Peter Madden, lawyer for Michaela McCollum, has criticised the conditions the 20-year-old is being held in, along with 20-year-old Melissa Reid. Speaking to Sky News he said he has a number of concerns for the two young women.

Two women who have been charged with attempting to smuggle £1.5 million worth of cocaine out of Peru, are in for "really, really harsh conditions" according to the head of a prison charity.

Pauline Crowe, Chief Executive of Prisoners Abroad, told Daybreak the women would have to buy their own food and could not expect medical support.

Two women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million out of Peru have been formally charged, prosecutors have said.

Michaella McCollum, 20, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland, and Melissa Reid, 20, from Glasgow, face a maximum prison sentence of 15 years if convicted, the prosecutor's office in Callao, near Lima added.

Two women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million out of Peru are expected to be charged today, according to prosecutors.

It is believed Michaella McCollum, 20, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland, and Melissa Reid, 20, from Glasgow, will then be taken to prison to await trial, a spokeswoman for the prosecutors' office said.

Peter Madden, the lawyer for the Irish woman held in Peru, expressed his concerns about the holding conditions the two women have been enduring.

He said neither of the women had been offered any food today, and authorities were not allowing family members to see the pair.

Read: British and Irish women held in Peru appear in court

Peter Madden, the Northern Irish lawyer representing Michaela McCollum, said he is not sure whether his client has been charged.

Speaking outside a detention centre in Lima, he said the two women "don't know what is going to happen" and that charges have not been communicated to him, or his Peruvian counterpart, but he suspects charges have been brought.

Melissa Reid and Michaela McCollum have both been charged, Miss McCollum's lawyer Peter Madden told Reuters.

Mr Madden told Reuters he was still unsure of the exact charges.