To not feel any sympathy for drug-smuggling women?

[DarceyBissell]

Just that really. Two young women facing 25 years in a Peruvian jail for trying to smuggle 11kg of cocaine. Saw they described as 'vulnerable' in one paper. Hardly. Greedy and stupid though.

A lot seem to do because they're struggling with money /and or want a better life for their kids. They don't think what would happen if they were caught? Their kids would rather be poor than mum less. Sounds awful but the ones who did it for greed i cant sympathise. Bet if our jails were more like abroad we wouldnt have so many people in a rush to break the law.

well it sounds as though you know more about it than I do tbh sweetestcup but I think there are quite a few medics who are addicts.

they broke the law in a South American country - what did they expect would happen if they were caught.

THIS!!!!!!!!! I felt afraid to say it and still feel afraid to say it but I'm braving myself anyway.

Why do these particular alleged drug smugglers need better conditions? Is it okay for anyone else convicted in a foreign country to rot, but some countries demand 'theres' back for punishment. Not only does it smack of sneering 'What would they know what to do??? it makes me uncomfortable that we seem to say 'those conditions aren't human! Quick, get the British criminals out, even if they broke a low in that country! What do you mean, what about the other prisoners? They're from^ here, they can deal with it.'

Which is why I asked if the problem was sentencing or prison conditions, because I think they're two very different issues. No one deserves those conditions - No one.

Sentencing is more of a civil matter however I guess.

I'm going to get flamed and I feel pathetic for being so intimidated but I feel this deserves posting

Cowers like Samwell Tarly before he obtained obsidian

sweetest other things which can kill include alcohol, paracetamol, bleach, iron tablets, plant food etc etc etc. none of them illegal.

the fact that misusing recreational drugs can be harmful does not mean that they should all be illegal. or do you think all of the above should be banned, and supply of paracetamol too be handed over to criminals?

I agree with burberry 's post above.

I know a dentist who is an addict and tbh everyone thinks the sun shines out of his arse

I just don't know how people have the nerve to do this. Everyone has heard stories about South American prison, I would be quaking in my boots just thinking of the possibility. How much money could they have been promised that made this seem like a good idea!

I know some doctors who are massively into their recreational pharmaceuticals.

god if I was a doctor or a dentist I would be at the drugs cabinet like a mad thing

There are lots of professionals who use drugs. I'm sure there are plenty of police/judges/lawyers who use drugs as well as medics. I think it should all be decriminalised and properly regulated.

Of course other things can kill but it is a ridiculous comparison using bleach, paracetamol etc - people would take these in excess to die, whilst generally people take drugs first for the feeling it gives them and then for the fix when they become physically addicted, and the feeling could be anything - good to feel pleasured or good to obliterate pain from their minds etc.
Deliberately overdosing to end your life is a different ball game, someone wanting to die could theoretically use anything, I have seen someone deliberately choke themselves to death for example using little rolled up balls of bread.

burberry I have no doubt there are drug addicted medics as you say, just that I really doubt they are getting their supply from their work.

It might be different in general hospitals as I have only worked in psychiatric hospitals but the Nurses had more access to the drugs as they had the keys, all the Doctors did was prescribe the drugs!

If they did not know they were transporting drugs, yes I have huge sympathy.
If they consented to transporting drugs for financial reward then I have no sympathy.
Their parents and friends were frantic with worry and now this. I feel terribly sorry for them. I felt the 20 year old was very young to be living in Ibiza as a dancer/ hostess. I would not be happy if my dd's wanted to do this, (actually over my dead body!) but each to their own I suppose. I do't know what the Scottish girl was doing in Ibiza - there was a focus in our papers/ news on the N.I girl that had gone missing.
I can't imagine you would be too naieve if you live in Ibiza for a while. All young people have been warned of the dangers of drugs so it's their choice IF THEY CHOOSE to TO USE.
Just like smokers know the danger to their health that tobacco brings.

All of you saying poor girls, naive, vulnerable, blah, blah. I am sorry, but you would think western girls are smart enough not to accept any parcels from unknown people/ saying no if asked to smuggle drugs, etc.

A jail in Peru is meant to be a jail (a place you do not want to be in) not some sort of holiday resort.

It seems to me that everyone thinks 'cuz I am British/american, etc.' other countries' rules won't apply to me. WRONG! There isn't much your embassies can do.

I would like to add, if anyone is trying to do it here, and think 'easy money', etc. DON'T. At the same time, at least they are not in a country where the punishment for that crime is the death penalty. And in Peru people love foreigners, so they will be fine. True, corrupt policemen can be found, but they can't take money you don't have and they will soon realize the girls are not wealthy.

but you could apply that to any number of situations that people find themselves in. Doesn't mean to say you can't feel sorry for them. They have ruined their lives spectacularly. If they were going to spend 25 years languishing in a British prison I'd feel the same. It's such a waste.

I would imagine if found guilty they'll do a few years in a Peruvian Prison, then end up getting extradited back here and do a few more in British prison. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever though. Either very greedy or very stupid or more likely, both.

When my children got into their older teens, and started leaving home/going on holidays abroad without the parents, thankfully I remembered to warn them about agreeing to "help out" anyone at an airport with their surplus luggage. I dont think they had already picked up that knowledge elsewhere.

Not saying that these particular girls are innocent of what they have been accused of.

If they agreed to "help out" someone with surplus luggage and that "surplus luggage" turned out to be cocaine than they are as guilty as if they put it there themself. It is a travellers responsibility to know what they are carrying in their luggage.

yes, I feel sorry for them. 25 years in a Peruvian jail. They're at 200% capacity according to the radio tonight - people sleeping in the toilets and dying of all sorts of easily treatable diseases. I'm sure they knew the consequences of being caught. But I still feel bad for them.

sweetest the majority of people who take drugs recreationally (excluding heroin) do not become addicted nor do they suffer physical damage.

before I became a mum I was a regular recreational user and so are/were the majority of people I know. the vast majority lead normal, productive lives, and have no problem stopping when appropriate.(and generally giving up completely when they became parents)

a far larger proportion of drinkers are problem drinkers, compared to eg. ecstasy or cannabis users. yet alcohol is legal.

"I know a dentist who is an addict and tbh everyone thinks the sun shines out of his arse"

Well, just because he's an addict, doesn't mean he's a bad person, or that he can't do his job. Addicts aren't morally degenerate, they're just... addicts! Yes, if he's a cocaine addict he's contributing to the awful situation for people in countries that produce it, but then you could make a similar argument about lots of developing world exports.

I am worried, my son who is 20 will be going to Sri Lanka in November, He's going to study leopards, however what if someone sneaks something in on the way back, I have told him to check and check again. He is stopping over in Colombo. which is a big city, and well we are country hicks.

DM online, is saying that the girls are saying that they were forced at gunpoint to carry stuff acorss the border. And that they didnt know what it was they were being forced to carry.

eccentrica we are going to have to agree to disagree, you sound like you are trying to justify taking illegal drugs under the pretence "we all do it and we are all fine", using the alcohol is worse excuse to. You were risking physical and mental health problems every time you took drugs, your choice. But I suppose if everyone you know takes drugs it must seem normal!

No sympathy at all. No excuses, they are 20(?) not 12. People who have sympathy with this type of lowlife cannot have seen the misery drugs cause to old and young.

AND we don't want them back over here bleating their excuses to the redtops and getting a reduced sentence because we are led by a load of lefty, bleeding heart softies.

Of course, they may be totally innocent.........