British drugs suspect held in Peru says life 'ruined' (Roundup)

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Nov 29, 2007, 13:55 GMT

General view of the incineration of the 23.5 tonnes of cocaine in Manzanillo port, Mexico on 28 November 2007 by members of the Mexican Federal Police and Mexican Army. EPA/JORGE GUTIERREZ

(M&C) - The British woman held in a Peruvian jail on suspicion of attempting to smuggle cocaine out of Lima's Jorge Chavez Airport on Sunday evening, has told British media her life is "ruined."

Rachel Franklin, 20, from Southampton, was intercepted by Peruvian police allegedly trying to smuggle 4kg (8lb) of cocaine out of the country in her luggage.

Speaking to the BBC, Miss Franklin said she had been pressured into carrying the drugs.

"Basically I had a holiday. I was acting like a normal tourist, I went to visit Machu Picchu, went round the restaurants and on the last day I was given drugs to bring back to England," she said.

"The blocks were inside a Winnie the Pooh bag which I put inside my suitcase. Just put it in your suitcase and don't look paranoid - that's all I was told."

She admitted that, being unemployed, money was her primary motivation.

"I can't lie, at first it was about the money. I did want £5,000 because being unemployed £5,000 is a lot," she said.

"But on the day before I left I didn't want to do it, but one of the blokes turned round and said that I had to go because all the flights were booked. At the start I didn't want to do it but then I was pushed into it at the last minute, just when I wanted to back out."

"I do feel really guilty about not saying no, straight away, and getting myself tangled into all this mess. I've got three A-levels and I wanted to do something with my life. Now it's all just ruined; I should have just said no," Miss Franklin told the reporter.

She said she hoped to serve her time in a British prison and had been advised by the British embassy that she could apply for a transfer depending on the length of the sentence.