To want the "Peru Two" to stay in Peru?

[QueenOfConeyIsland]

I honestly don't know if IABU to want them to serve the whole of their sentence in Peru and not part of the UK?

They knew what they were doing and knew the risks. It would deter some people from doing in the future too.

But on the other hand they are young girls just starting to live their life and are going to have pretty much all of their 20s taken away from them.

I'm quite conflicted.

[ComposHat]

They aren't girls...they are adult women who made adult decisions.
Do you really think two 20 year old males in similar circumstances as boys and the implied helplessness and passivity that goes with describing a fully functioning adult as a child?

[perlona]

A Chinese, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Indian etc would expect to serve their full sentence there, white (or any other shade of) Westerners shouldn't be given special treatment. Peruvians don't get special treatment in Europe.

Do the crime, serve the time... these girls and every other potential greedy mule lured by easy money, shouldn't be taught that Western privilege will protect them from developing and third world justice systems.

I feel sorry for genuinely poor people who mule so their children can get medical treatment, eat or be educated, they always get the harshest sentences because they are easy targets. These girls have no excuse, they wanted easy money for clothes and recreation, pure greed and laziness.

[Maverick66]

Just two silly silly girls! I suspect they were scapegoats for a much bigger "deal" . I blame celebrity culture anything to make a fast buck .

[dontsqueezetheteabag]

I'm with you OP

They knew what they were doing. Idiots!!

[QueenOfConeyIsland]

One of them had her nails painted pink. They had clean clothes on. They didn't look like they are being starved. The book she was holding I doubt she had that with her when she was arrested.

They obviously aren't living a glamourous lifestyle but I doubt its hell on earth.

[roadwalker]

theywillgrowup- I will join you and get a flaming
Every time I see them I can't help but think it can't be so bad there is a lot of time for hair

[wannaBe]

"If they had broken the law - lets say women not being allowed to drive, or show their arms in a hot climate, would we still be saying they are justifyably in prison?" well, if you know that the law in Saudi (for instance) prohibits women from driving, and you go out there and drive anyway and are caught, while we might not agree that the law is fair, it's the law in that country, and if you knowingly break it then you are bloody stupid. Because ultimately where do we draw the line on "the law is wrong."?

So you might think that the law on drugs is wrong. Should you be able to break it because you think so? what about the laws on say, forced marriage or female genital mutilation? These are part of some cultures, should those who practice them be allowed to do so on the basis that "the law is wrong?" It's not the public that make the laws, if there are perceived to be issues with the law then these should be challenged through official channels. You can't just break the law just because you think that "it's wrong." and yes, that applies to laws we consider unfair in other countries as well...

[WorrySighWorrySigh]

Interesting on this thread is the casual assumption that conditions will be worse than in the UK. Sandra Gregory (smuggled drugs in Thailand) found prison conditions harder in the UK than in Bangkok. Not the physical conditions but the relentless grind of the system.

These women made stupid, stupid choices. It is possible that they didnt plan to smuggle as much. It is possible that once they had agreed to smuggle some drugs that the whole thing got bigger and bigger. It probably looked like easy money.

I guess that on Ibiza they were in the company of people for whom drug taking and dealing had been normalised. In such company was the step into smuggling so great? Perhaps not but one step lead to the next.

They made their choices and now have to live with the consequences. I judge them and find the wanting.

[theywillgrowup]

a side issue but on the news they showed the dark haired girls mugshot when first arrested,fast forward to sentencing and she has copper coloured hair,and generally looked better than before

it may seem daft but the hair had deffo been dyed,how the hell if these jails are such "hell holes" how does she manage to look like shes had a makeover

im ready for a flaming

[MrsTerrysChocolateOrange]

But we are not talking about that, we're talking about smuggling large quantities of drugs. Which attracts severe penalties in almost every country in the world and for good reason. Cynically the reason it attracts severe penalties everywhere is cultural imperialism and the American 'War on Drugs'.

[ComposHat]

If they had broken the law - lets say women not being allowed to drive, or show their arms in a hot climate, would we still be saying they are justifyably in prison?

But we are not talking about that, we're talking about smuggling large quantities of drugs. Which atreacts severe penalties in almost every country in the world and for good reason.

Your 'logic' is flawed.

[Roussette]

They will serve their time but why not let them be closer to their families? And for their parents to have their daughters nearby?

I disagree. Only on tv this morning the mother and sister of the dark haired girl said that she was innocent. She has never done anything like this before and it was all a set up blah blah. If her family are thinking that, and not accepting that their daughter did something very greedy and very stupid, the only way she will learn a lesson is to stay out there and serve her sentence.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

When I was about 21 and sillly I hitch hiked from Amsterdam to Greece with enough acid to pay for a holiday. I had a plastic passport holder and I shoved them in there. We were lucky enough to get picked up by a truck that was going from UK to Athens so spent quite a few days crossing many borders.
We were two pretty girls and no one looked twice.
Now at the age of 57 and old bagism I wonder what the fuck was I thinking?
I scare myself even thinking about the consequences, as I imagine the two girls were a bit like me eg stupid.
I hope they serve some of their sentence in the UK.

[justanuthermanicmumsday]

Can't believe someone said they were just trying to make some money. Have you seen th effects drugs has on those who take it and the devastation to their families? I've seen it not in my own family but friends of friends. Unfortunately he drug dealer is part of the family supplies to own siblings. They're the scum of the earth. What's the difference with these girls they would have been the dealers or middle men making money through others misfortunes, and addictions.

But I do have a heart they're still humans and should be kept as such not animals. So hey should serve their time in the uk, not in Peru . He conditions there must be horrendous. Also what of their innocent families why should they be given a death sentence. It's worse than death for the families of those imprisoned. Because their loved ones are alive but out of sight and not easily accessible it's like grief everyday. Have a heart, yes they should serve in the uk.

[fairisleknitter]

I'm not angry at them zippey but I do judge them.

("Criminal dimwits" if your bothered.)

I thought the one's dad seemed a decent bloke and for his sake I'm glad his life is made less awful.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I do agree that someone higher up the chain than them persuaded them to do it. No idea how much persuasion was needed but wouldn't be surprised if they were told they'd never get caught, its really safe, etc.

So in that respect they are a little bit of a victim. But mainly they're a victim of their own greed and stupidity. They still had a choice.

If someone had asked me to smuggle cocaine when I was 18 I'd have to,d them to fuck off no matter how much money I was offered or how much I was told I'd never be caught.

[friday16]

Also, these girls are as much victims as those using the drugs.

Which is to say, "not victims at all". People who take drugs know the consequences.

[RibbonsInMyHair]

Also, these girls are as much victims as those using the drugs.

That's a massive laugh out loud statement.

They are not victims.

I agree with the posters above who have agreed with me

Well duh. Of course you are going to agree with people who agree with you.

[zippey]

Some folks have also said that if they didnt want to be jailed in Peru then they shouldnt have broken the law in Peru therefore, its right to be punished.

If they had broken the law - lets say women not being allowed to drive, or show their arms in a hot climate, would we still be saying they are justifyably in prison?

Ok, so cocaine smuggling is different, but the law is the law. But just because its law doesnt mean its right!

[zippey]

Murder and drug smuggling is very different. Drug smuggling isnt a victimless crime, but its a crime where supply needs to meet demand, and drug users willingly seek out drugs. Its not like a violent crime where victims do not wish violence upon themselves.

Also, these girls are as much victims as those using the drugs. They are as much victims of the drug cartels making a fortune out of the drugs business and staying out of harms way as, lets say, prostitutes are victims of people who use their services. It'd be a bit like punishing prostitutes for selling themselves.

I agree with the posters above who have agreed with me. I would also say that we are too quick to judge and get angry at people who have messed up.

[ComposHat]

Meh...if they didn't want to spend time in a Peruvian jail. They shouldn't have committed a serious time in Peru.

[Pixel]

I think the point is that we don't consider the feelings of the families for other serious crimes so why should we for this one?

[formerbabe]

What's the point of comparing their treatment to the treatment of murderers then?

[RibbonsInMyHair]

They didn't murder someone though



Who said they did?

I'm making the point that if they had committed murder then you probably wouldn't get people feeling sorry for them or their family.

Do you think drug smuggling is a victim less crime? That what they did was ok?

The crime that committed is serious. You don't have to have a vast knowledge of law to know this.

[wannaBe]

I don't get the "they're so young," argument either. They're adults. so maybe they're immature, or maybe they knew exactly what they were doing, certainly enough to make up a story of being abducted in Ibizza to try and get away with it. At what age should people be expected to take responsibility for their actions then? Given that the age of sexual consent is sixteen, the age at which someone can vote/drive/get a mortgage is eighteen, at what age should people be held criminally responsible for smuggling drugs? 21? 25? 30? if you're an adult you're an adult. there aren't levels of adulthood, and if you commit a crime as an adult then you are responsible, as an adult.