Footage shows pair being questioned by authorities at airport
Ms McCollum-Connolly identifies herself and describes her nationality as Irish. Ms Reid, from Scotland, is questioned by police and is heard to say: “I was forced to take these bags in my luggage.”
When asked if she knew they contained drugs, the 19-year-old said: “I did not know that.”
Both girls left home for separate holidays in Ibiza earlier this summer.
Last week, Ms McCollum-Connolly was at the centre of a social media appeal after her family said they had not had any contact with her for 12 days. The first they heard was when she turned up in Peruvian police custody.
Ms Reid’s mother Debra told reporters she thought her daughter was in Ibiza with friends and had no idea she had travelled to South America.
Ms Reid flew to Ibiza in June and had posted numerous pictures of herself with friends on the island on her Facebook page. Her last post was Jul 21.
The women are said to be in custody in a police station in Lima. Foreigners arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking in Peru can remain in holding cells in the anti-drugs police headquarters for 15 days while officers investigate.
Suspects are then either charged or released; if they are charged they will be transferred to prison to await a court hearing.
Investigator Manuel Siclla said: “They are OK, but are obviously worried about their families and what the future holds for them. Like anyone else involved in drug smuggling, they will be tried and face long prison sentences if convicted. We take this problem very seriously here in Peru and courts are very strict about the enforcement of the law.”
It is understood the pair are being held separately in maximum-security holding cells.
Peru is thought to have surpassed Colombia as the world’s biggest producer of cocaine after UN figures showed the latter reduced its area under coca cultivation by 25%, from 64,000 hectares in 2011 to 48,000 by the end of 2012.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that the cultivation of coca bush, which provides the raw material for cocaine, had dropped for the second year running — falling by about 7% in 2012. The previous year saw a drop of 12% in cultivation.
In 2011, Peru’s crop stood at around 62,500, an increase of 5.2% on 2010.
It placed Peru’s crop at 62,500 hectares.
Figures for last year are yet to be released.
*Michaella McCollum- Connolly’s lawyer said her family are confident she will be cleared of any wrongdoing. Solicitor for her family Peter Madden, said in a statement:
“We represent the family of Michaella McCollum, who is in police detention in Peru. Michaella has been questioned by the police and has denied involvement in any criminal offence. She will be appearing before an examining judge shortly.
“Michaella’s family are obviously shocked and distressed by the recent events but are confident that Michaella will be exonerated. The family fully support her and they are making arrangements to travel to Peru. They have contacted support groups in Lima to ensure that her needs are met.
“I am arranging legal representation for her in Lima. I spoke to Michaella last night and she emphasised that she denied she was guilty of any offence. She is well. She is not on hunger strike. She is finding it difficult to cope with the situation, so far from home, but is optimistic.
“The family want privacy at this time and hopefully this will be respected by the media.”
Brian Hutton
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