Bali drugs mule gran pictured back on UK soil after years on death row

Bali Drugs Mule Returns to UK After 13 Years on Death Row

Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has returned to the UK after spending 12 years on death row in Indonesia for smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali.

Background and Arrest

In 2012, aged 56, Sandiford admitted to drug smuggling but claimed she was forced by an international drug syndicate that threatened her family if she refused.

Sentence and Imprisonment

She was sentenced to death by firing squad in 2013 and endured harsh prison conditions during her incarceration.

Release and Return

Last month, a humanitarian agreement led to her release. After a 20-hour flight with a government-funded £600 ticket, she arrived at London Heathrow, marking her first time back in the UK in over a decade.

“Doctors have assessed Lindsay and determined she's very unwell. She has spent 12 years in one of the worst prisons in the world and that has taken its toll on her. She's desperate to get home, she's been preparing for months. Before leaving prison she said a farewell to the other prisoners who have become like family to her.”

Current Situation

Sandiford is reported to be eager to reunite with her family and receive urgent medical care following the UK Government’s efforts to secure her release.

Summary: Lindsay Sandiford's long ordeal on death row for drug smuggling has ended with her repatriation to the UK, where she faces urgent health recovery and family reunification.

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The Mirror The Mirror — 2025-11-07

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