Bali Drugs Mule Returns to UK After Years on Death Row
Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old grandmother, has arrived back in the UK after spending 13 years awaiting execution in Indonesia for smuggling cocaine. She had been sentenced to death for attempting to bring £1.6 million worth of drugs into Bali.
Background and Sentence
In 2012, at the age of 56, Sandiford admitted to smuggling drugs but claimed she was forced into it by an international drug syndicate that threatened her family. The following year, she was sentenced to death by firing squad and endured harsh prison conditions for over a decade.
Release and Return
Last month, a humanitarian deal was reached securing her release. After a long flight with a layover, Sandiford arrived at London Heathrow Airport on a government-funded £600 ticket, marking her first return to Britain in more than ten years.
Health and Family
She is reportedly "desperate" to reunite with her family and receive urgent medical care. A source stated:
"Doctors have assessed Lindsay and determined she's very unwell. She has spent 12 years in one of the worst prisons in the world and that has taken its toll on her. She's desperate to get home, she's been preparing for months. Before leaving prison she said a farewell to the other prisoners who have become like family to her."
Summary
Lindsay Sandiford’s return highlights the severe consequences of drug trafficking and the humanitarian efforts involved in repatriating vulnerable prisoners.