Michaella Mccollum

Michaella McCollum, also known as Michaella McCollum Connolly, is a Northern Irish woman who gained international notoriety in 2013 after being arrested in Peru for attempting to smuggle cocaine. The incident catapulted her from relative obscurity to a household name, attracting intense media scrutiny and raising questions about the vulnerabilities of young travelers.

Born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, McCollum was working as a model and dancer in Ibiza when she met Melissa Reid, a Scottish woman who would become her accomplice. The pair claimed they were coerced into carrying the drugs by an armed gang who threatened their families. They alleged they were forced to travel to Majorca, then Peru, to collect the cocaine from a hotel in Lima.

In August 2013, McCollum and Reid were arrested at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru, attempting to board a flight to Spain with 11 kg (24 lb) of cocaine hidden inside food packages in their luggage. Initially, they maintained their claim of coercion, but eventually pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in order to receive a shorter sentence. They were sentenced to six years and eight months in prison.

McCollum’s time in prison was a stark contrast to her life before. She was initially incarcerated in the notorious Santa Mónica women’s prison in Lima, before being transferred to the Ancon 2 prison, also known as Piedras Gordas. During her incarceration, she reportedly took up hairdressing and beauty therapy.

McCollum was released on parole in March 2016, after serving just over two years of her sentence. Following her release, she remained in Peru for a period, working on a voluntary basis. She returned to Northern Ireland later that year.

Since her return home, McCollum has attempted to rebuild her life. She wrote a memoir titled “You’ll Never See Daylight Again,” which details her experiences in Peru, from her recruitment into the drug smuggling operation to her time in prison and her eventual release. The book explores her perspective on the events and offers a reflection on the choices she made.

McCollum’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers faced by young people traveling abroad and the potential consequences of making risky decisions. Her case has highlighted the complexities of drug trafficking, coercion, and the challenges of rehabilitation after incarceration. While her actions were undoubtedly illegal and harmful, her experience has also sparked debate about the extent of her culpability and the pressures faced by vulnerable individuals lured into criminal activity. She has since focused on family life, having become a mother to twins, and continues to navigate life under the shadow of her past mistakes.