Peru drugs mule Melissa Reid released from jail and heading back to UK
The 22-year-old was jailed for six years for her part in a £1.5million drug smuggling plot with Michaella McCollum
British drugs smuggler Melissa Reid has been released from prison in Peru tonight and put on a plane back to the UK.
The Scot has served three years of her six year jail sentence in Ancon 2 jail in Lima.
The 22-year-old smiled as she arrived at Lima Airport on Tuesday evening with her father, Billy, and British embassy staff, before being whisked through security by Peruvian officials overseeing her deportation.
It is believed she will fly via Amsterdam before arriving in back in the UK.
Once home, Reid will be free.
Authorities in Peru made the decision to expel her from the country at a hearing last month.
A judge granted Reid's expulsion in May under an early release scheme for deporting first-time drug offenders.
Janeth Sanchez, a spokeswoman for Peru's prison service, said on Tuesday that the Scot had "served her time in prison according to the law and can now go to her country, free, to the streets".
Reid then faced a wait of up to 20 days to allow for the full release process to be completed
Reid, from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, was caught with 23-year-old Michaella McCollum, from Dungannon, Co Tyrone, trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5 million in mayonnaise bags from Peru to Spain in 2013.
The pair - nicknamed the "Peru Two" - were jailed for six years and eight months after admitting the offence.
At the time Melissa’s father Billy, 55, said that his daughter’s “prayers had been answered.”
He added: “She regrets the predicament she finds herself in, is apologetic for her actions, and wants to show that she can be a credit to her family and make things right.”
He has previously spoken out about how the impact of his daughter's crime has had a "horrendous" impact on the family.
He was also involved in a video warning of the consequences of trafficking drugs overseas.
McCollum was freed in March under new legislation but is required to remain on parole in Peru for the remainder of her sentence.
She is volunteering with a church and lodging with a local priest.
McCollum was criticised for her glamorous appearance in the interview
She has already given a tell-all interview with Irish television station RTE, where she stated she was naive and didn't realise the consequences of her actions.
Reid, from East Dunbartonshire, and McCollum, from Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland were jailed in 2013 after trying to smuggle 11kg cocaine worth £1.5 million from Peru to Madrid, Spain.
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The pair had cut the drugs with bicarbonate of soda and starch, and concealed them inside porridge and jelly packets to mask the smell of drugs.
The pair claimed they were forced into carrying the drugs, but eventually pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six years and eight months in a Peruvian prison.
The girls had faced the prospect of a maximum 15-year prison term but struck a plea bargain to secure a shorter sentence.
They had previously been held at the notorious Virgen de Fatima prison in Lima but were moved to Ancon 2 prison.
It has been reported that the girls were held in cells with 30 other prisoners.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We continue to provide assistance to Melissa Reid and remain in contact with her family and local authorities."
A Scottish Prison Service spokeswoman said it was not involved with Reid's case.
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