Laura Plummer jailed

Jura2 - you ask for comments on:
"If an Egyptian came here and was caught with selling 300 Tramadols in the streets- how many years would he get?"
I've no idea but I don't think the question is relevant. Travellers should obey the laws of the countries they visit and accept the consequences if they don't. In Saudi Arabia & other strict Islamic countries foreigners have been imprisoned for drinking alcohol - not a crime in their own countries.
As others have said I don't think she is as naive as her family are saying - she's been a regular visitor to Egypt.

3 years was the minimum sentence for the offence.

Poor silly girl.

Information is easily available about the laws on carrying prescription drugs into a particular country.

If an Egyptian came here and was caught selling 300 Tramadol in the street- how many years would he get
Simple answer: none. That's providing it was his first offence. If it wasn't then he might get a community service order. In that case he would be on first plane home.

www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/tramadol-shocker-belfast-housewives-dealing-8714296

Two years ago.

"People who are caught in possession of tramadol illegally can expect to face action.

It could be a formal caution or an arrest and possible conviction.

Having tramadol that is not prescribed for you for your own use could result in up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.

Selling, supplying or giving tramadol away for free, even to friends, could result in up to 14 years in prison and/or an unlimited fine. "

From the Hull Daily Mail.

No wonder the 'friend' will not own up to giving them to her.

Interesting article. incorrect dosage [of Tramadol] could have potentially fatal consequences. This is true of tablets you can buy in supermarkets.

Have there been any cases of fatal consequences in Belfast, I wonder?

I think there's quite a strong case to be made (and some people are making it) for decriminalising "Classed" drugs. I don't have a strong opinion about it but the arguments I've heard seem reasonable.

And the current laws aren't working when it comes to drug abuse.

That’s a different and complex discussion bags. Legalising or decriminalising drugs here wouldn’t have any impact on tramadol and Egypt.

True. Just blethering on related issues

You have to make sure you know what the regulations for each country you're visiting are.

When we went to Aus. for Christmas 2 years ago I'd packed some tea bags for DS. They were part of a 'monkey' gift pack together with 2 mugs and tea spoons. So I ticked the appropriate box on the immigration form and explained what I was carrying when I handed it in.

They just smiled at me and waved me on my way but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

My understanding is that whenever you arrive in a country you fill out a card which includes a question about meds you have in your possession. If she'd ticked 'yes' I'd have been more convinced it was a mistake.

When my mam goes to Australia she declares everything and lets immigration decide.

There's more than one "friend" involved. Probably a circle of friends who know of people taking them . They buy of them and so on and so forth it's the same with any drugs. She's been caught knowing exactly what she was doing. 3 years is a doddle for that.

Off them sorry

I think some sections of the press and media have been a bit quick to build a picture of complete innocence and it will not help in the long run, as most of the comments here show that people can work a lot of things out for themselves. It is good that our country will help anyone who gets into trouble in a strange country, whether through ignorance, bad influences or sheer hard luck. That could happen to any of us. However, it would be good if the weight of public attention was kept on those languishing in prisons far from home because of local conditions, legal systems, corruption and politics beyond their control.

Very true

DH thought it would take up less space to transfer the tea bags to a squashable polythene bag but I persuaded him they were better left in the packets Smileless.
Sometimes they want to question what medication I am taking in, other times they don't bother.

I too think that 3 years is a fairly lenient sentence for that offence in that country NannyTee.

Thank you for the information durhamjen - yes, the consequences could be severe (up to 14 years imprisonment + a fine) in this country too for supply of a Schedule 3 drug. It is not allowed to be prescribed on a repeat prescription so how she got hold of 300 from 'a friend' who got them legally is a mystery .

It annoys me that the media keep saying that the drugs are legal in this country making them sound as if you can buy them over the counter.

Totally agree vampirequeen

It doesn't annoy me. Being legal only means that they either can be bought or they can be prescribed by doctors. Plus that one can use them legally.

Illegal drugs are ones that can't be used legally at all.

Prescription-only drugs I was taking for arthritic pain back in the nineties, which have now been withdrawn from use in this country, were available over the counter in Thailand where I was working at the time. You couldn't buy them in the UK but they were still legal.

Yes but it's not legal to give them to someone else. They were only legal to the person prescribed them