British couple ‘shocked’ at arrest for growing opium poppies

A BRITISH woman who was thrown into an Italian jail with her husband after they were arrested for allegedly growing opium poppies yesterday spoke of their “shocking and frightening” experience.

Italian police launched a dawn raid on the Umbrian holiday home of Nina Gillis and her husband Clive, from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, after a tip-off that they were cultivating opium poppies, which can be used to produce heroin.

The couple, both 58, were incarcerated at Perugia jail for three days, before a judge allowed them to go free while he considered the evidence in the case.

Mrs Gillis, a retired teacher, said she had “no idea” how the poppies came to be growing in the garden of their four-bedroom house in the village of Colle Calazaro.

“We had cleared the garden last year to make way for a swimming pool, and the ground had been left since then, so the poppies must have germinated since then. Until the raid last Tuesday, we didn’t even know what the flowers were.”

The couple were taken to Citta Della Pieve police station, where Mr Gillis, a GP, suffered a panic attack. He was treated by ambulance staff at the police station.

“After that we were taken to Perugia prison, and we were separated.

“It was all so scary because we weren’t sure what was happening and being involved in drugs in Italy is a very serious offence.”

On Friday, the couple appeared before a judge, who had to decide whether to take the case further.

“I didn’t enjoy the experience, but it won’t put us off spending time in Italy because we love it there so much,” said Mrs Gillis.