Scottish authorities consider Peru jail transfer

Scottish authorities are considering a transfer application made by convicted drugs mule Melissa Reid who was jailed in Peru last year along with Irish woman after Michaella McCollum.

The 20-year-old may return home in the coming months after it emerged the Scottish Prison Service is considering a repatriation application from Lima authorities.

Dungannon woman Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid from Glasgow were jailed for six years and eight months in September after pleading guilty to drug smuggling.

The two women were subsequently transferred from the minimum security wing of the Virgen de Fatima prison in Chorrillos, Lima, to Santa Monica, a larger women's prison in the same district.

The pair were working on the Spanish party island of Ibiza last summer when they claim they were forced to board a flight with 24lb of cocaine in food packets hidden inside their luggage.

They were caught with the €1.7million haul at Lima airport on August 6th.

Ms Reid’s father, from Lenzie, near Glasgow, said he has met with Scotland’s justice secretary Kenny MacAskill and is hopeful that his daughter will serve the rest of her sentence closer to home.

It is understood that in most cases prisoner transfer applications are approved.

Billy Reid (54) told the Mail on Sunday: "I had a very positive meeting with Kenny MacAskill and he reassured me that Scotland has no issue (with) accepting Melissa back to serve her sentence here.

"We understand the Scottish Government can't promise to magic her back home and they won't pull any strings, but it was very comforting to hear that they are not against any move."

A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: “We can confirm that we have received an application from Peru for the transfer of a prisoner.”