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

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

Lindsay Sandiford, 69, has returned to the UK after spending 13 years on death row in Indonesia for smuggling drugs. She was convicted of smuggling £1.6 million worth of cocaine into Bali in 2012 and sentenced to death by firing squad in 2013.

Sandiford admitted her involvement but claimed she was pressured by an international drug syndicate that threatened her family if she refused. She endured harsh prison conditions until her release was negotiated on humanitarian grounds last month.

Return to the UK and Health Concerns

After a 20-hour flight with a layover, Sandiford arrived at London Heathrow Airport on a government-funded £600 ticket, marking her first return to British soil in over a decade. She is eager to reunite with her family and receive urgent medical care.

"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."

Background on Imprisonment

Author’s Summary

Lindsay Sandiford’s return to the UK after over a decade on Indonesian death row highlights the human cost of international drug trafficking and the need for urgent medical attention following harsh imprisonment.

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The Mirror The Mirror — 2025-11-07

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