The Drugs Mule : Episode 525

Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum became known around the world as the "Peru Two" after they were caught trying to smuggle 11 kilograms of cocaine out of Peru.

They said they had been drawn into the operation by an organised crime gang and felt they couldn't back out, while others argued they had knowingly taken a huge risk in return for money. Their arrest made headlines across the globe and sparked years of debate about where the line lies between exploitation and personal responsibility. In this episode, I look beyond the headlines to explore how two teenagers ended up at the centre of one of the most talked-about drug trafficking cases of recent times, and why their story still divides opinion today.

I release episodes of the UK True Crime podcast every Tuesday and Friday, so please do join me again on Tuesday for the next regular episode and do join me on Sunday for my interview with top forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes.

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