'British cocaine mule' refuses to speak to lawyers as 'he's terrified drug lords will seek revenge'
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A Brit accused of cocaine smuggling refuses to speak to lawyers because he is believed to be terrified of South American drug cartels.
Sean Woods, 24, from Liverpool, was arrested in Lima last month after police allegedly found 32kg (70lbs) of cocaine, worth £4.5million, in his suitcase.
It is nearly three times the 11kg (24lbs) found on “Peru Two” drug mules Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid in 2013.
They were sentenced to almost seven years behind bars.
But because of the size of his alleged haul, Woods is facing 15-25 years imprisonment on Aggravated Drug Smuggling charges.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Police sources in the Peruvian capital said he had been in the country for over two months before his arrest.
It is understood he has so far refused to co-operate with the investigation because he is afraid of being targeted by the ruthless gangs who control the country’s drug trade.
He is believed to have told police he is a computer technician but he has also said he has been suffering from serious financial troubles.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
Woods was arrested in a shopping mall, dragging a large blue Samsonite suitcase packed full of cocaine.
He was pounced on as he pulled the heavy suitcase along in an area of the city which foreigners rarely visit.
Pictures released by the Peruvian police showed him handcuffed, wearing a purple t-shirt and matching shorts, with black trainers.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
And in exclusive video images obtained by the Daily Mirror, he told arresting officers he had no idea what was in the suitcase, which appears to be brand new.
He said: “I don’t know what’s in it. He said to meet here at 1 o clock, I don’t know phones. I just wait here.”
Police forced the lock of the case, revealing more than 30 white packages, which they tested for cocaine.
Since his arrest Woods has appeared in court in Lima for a brief preliminary hearing.
But he has so far refused to cooperate with prosecutors and could be held in custody for up to seven months before his case reaches trial.
(Image: Daily Mirror)
In 2013, Michaella McCollum, from Northern Ireland, and Scot Melissa Reid were caught at Lima’s international airport trying to smuggle 11kg (24lbs) of cocaine worth £1.5million out of Peru.
They claimed they were forced to carry the drugs by an armed gang. They got six years and eight months each after admitting smuggling, but were freed in 2016 after striking a deal with Peruvian authorities.
Investigators claim Woods was “caught red-handed,” saying each of the 31 packages were marked with the letter R, which is believed to represent a major drugs gang.
After his arrest last month a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: ‘We are providing consular assistance to a British national arrested in Peru and are in contact with the local authorities.”