Advertisement

British woman will face trial in Egypt for alleged smuggling of painkiller drugs

A British woman will face trial for smuggling powerful painkillers into Egypt, after prosecutors yesterday referred her case to the criminal court.

Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, was arrested on October 9 at Hurghada airport in the Red Sea resort city after officials found 290 tramadol pills in her suitcase. 

She has insisted the Tramadol tablets were for her Egyptian partner who she said suffers from chronic back pain. The drug is legal in the UK but it is banned by Egypt, given its wide use as a heroin substitute.

No date has yet been set for her trial. 

If she is denied bail she will have to remain in Egypt until her case reaches court, which could take up to two years. 

Her family had been told she could face up to 25 years in jail for drug trafficking, with one lawyer even mentioning the death penalty.

Laura's family including her mum, Roberta and her sisters Rachel and Jayne (l-r), appeared on This Morning - Credit: ITV
Laura's family including her mum, Roberta and her sisters Rachel and Jayne (l-r), appeared on This Morning Credit: ITV

“It’s obviously scary,” her brother James told the Telegraph, reacting to the news. “We are very worried for her. If I could speak to her I would just say ‘be strong, look after yourself, we love you.”

Her partner, Egyptian national Omar Caboo, said he has provided the court in Hurghada with X-rays and medical records to support her defence. 

“These papers will prove she was telling the truth,” said Mr Caboo, 34.

Mr Plummer said his sister just thought she was doing a "good deed" by bringing the medication over to Mr Caboo, and said she will be "completely out of her comfort zone" in jail.

Laura Plummer says she is facing the death penalty in Egypt for carrying painkillers in her suitcase. - Credit: Facebook
Laura Plummer says she is facing the death penalty in Egypt for carrying painkillers in her suitcase. Credit: Facebook

They say she is being held in a “hellhole” conditions in a 15ft by 15ft cell with 25 other women for nearly a month, but is holding up. 

“I meet her constantly. She is now more balanced and believe that she is innocent,” Mr. Othman told the Telegraph,” Mohamed Othman, one of Ms Plummer’s defence lawyers, told the Telegraph.

“We will ask the judge to release Laura on bail with any warranty.”

Ms Plummer met Mr Caboo, 34, four years ago in Hurghada where he work as entertainment manager in a hotel. 

The couple had what is known as an Urfi marriage, which is a customary marriage contract that requires witnesses but not legally recognised by the state.