Missing nightclub hostess who disappeared from holiday in Ibiza turns up in PERU 'trying to board flight to Madrid with £1.5m of cocaine'
- Michaella McCollum Connolly, of Belfast, arrested with Briton Melissa Reid
- Police in Peru say they found more than 11 kilos of cocaine in their luggage
- Ms McCollum Connolly was at centre of Facebook and social media appeal
- She sparked campaign after disappearing from holiday island Ibiza
- Family said they had not heard anything from her in 12 days
By JAMES RUSH PUBLISHED: 13:20 GMT, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 16:00 GMT, 10 August 2013
A nightclub hostess who sparked a massive online campaign after she disappeared from holiday island Ibiza has turned up in police custody in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking. Michaella McCollum Connolly, 20, from Belfast, was arrested in Lima on Tuesday along with Briton Melissa Reid, 19, while trying to board a flight to Madrid.The National Police of Peru said they found more than 11 kilos of cocaine - thought to be worth around £1.5m - hidden in food in the luggage of the two women.
Michaella McCollum Connolly (pictured), 20, has been arrested in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking along with Briton Melissa Reid, 19
They were stopped at the international airport's Air Europa counter. Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal, backed by Irish sports stars, desperately seeking information about her whereabouts over the past two weeks. Her distraught family said they had not heard anything from her in 12 days.
Diplomats have confirmed they are helping an Irish woman and a British woman arrested in Peru over alleged drug trafficking offences.The Foreign Office in London confirmed it was helping a British national.'We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Peru this week and are providing consular assistance,' a spokesman said.
Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal seeking information about her whereabouts over the past two weeks
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was also providing consular assistance to the family of an Irish woman being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking offences. Ms McCollum Connolly holds an Irish passport.The photography student had gone to San Anotnio in Ibiza in June on a working holiday.
The pair were arrested in Lima (pictured) on Tuesday while trying to board a flight to Madrid
She was looking for work as a dancer and nightclub hostess. Her family said she usually phoned home every two to three days and they became concerned when she had fallen out of contact. Ms McCollum Connolly and Ms Reid were detained at the Jorge Chavez International airport as they tried to board a flight to Madrid, which was travelling on to Palma Mallorca, police in Peru said.
Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal after she went missing from Ibiza (file picture)
Michaella McCollum Connolly (pictured), 20, has been arrested in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking along with Briton Melissa Reid, 19
They were stopped at the international airport's Air Europa counter. Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal, backed by Irish sports stars, desperately seeking information about her whereabouts over the past two weeks. Her distraught family said they had not heard anything from her in 12 days.
Diplomats have confirmed they are helping an Irish woman and a British woman arrested in Peru over alleged drug trafficking offences.The Foreign Office in London confirmed it was helping a British national.'We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Peru this week and are providing consular assistance,' a spokesman said.
Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal seeking information about her whereabouts over the past two weeks
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said it was also providing consular assistance to the family of an Irish woman being held in Peru on suspicion of drug trafficking offences. Ms McCollum Connolly holds an Irish passport.The photography student had gone to San Anotnio in Ibiza in June on a working holiday.
The pair were arrested in Lima (pictured) on Tuesday while trying to board a flight to Madrid
She was looking for work as a dancer and nightclub hostess. Her family said she usually phoned home every two to three days and they became concerned when she had fallen out of contact. Ms McCollum Connolly and Ms Reid were detained at the Jorge Chavez International airport as they tried to board a flight to Madrid, which was travelling on to Palma Mallorca, police in Peru said.
Ms McCollum Connolly was at the centre of a Facebook and online social media appeal after she went missing from Ibiza (file picture)
