Holly Cooper and her boyfriend Taylor Johnson, each 20, have been arrested in Istanbul, Turkey, allegedly making an attempt to smuggle hashish on a flight from Thailand as they headed towards their connecting flight to London.
TAKEN FROM FACEBOOK WITHOUT PERMISSION Brit ‘drug mule’ couple going through 30 years in Turkish jail after ‘making an attempt to smuggle two suitcases of hashish to UK’https://www.fb.com/holly.cooper.965580/images (Picture: Fb/Holly Cooper)
A British couple are going through as much as 30 years in jail after allegedly making an attempt to smuggle two suitcases filled with hashish into the UK.
Holly Cooper and her boyfriend Taylor Johnson, each 20, have been detained in Istanbul, Turkey, whereas on a flight from Thailand. Officers seized the pair as they made their method in the direction of their connecting flight to London on the finish of final month.
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Following interrogation, the couple have been reportedly thrown into an overcrowded holding cell, the place Taylor was allegedly overwhelmed by Turkish inmates, in line with claims made by household sources.
The pair, each from Wednesbury within the West Midlands, have been subsequently transferred to a unique jail. Nonetheless, it may very well be so long as a 12 months earlier than the case reaches trial, and the couple presently don’t have any personal authorized illustration, relying as an alternative on a state-appointed authorized workforce.
Pals are actually rallying to lift funds to cowl the couple’s authorized prices, as their anxious households anxiously await information of any developments. If discovered responsible, the pair might face a minimal sentence of between 10 and 30 years in gaol, experiences the Mirror.
A household pal described the couple as “good children”. Chatting with The Solar, the pal mentioned: “OK, they’ve achieved one thing silly this time, however everybody makes errors.
“They have been recruited and groomed by larger criminals and exploited by them. They’re alone in a Turkish jail. It is surprising and apparently Taylor has been overwhelmed up. The households are in bits.” In February, Holly shared pictures taken in Gran Canaria, Spain, earlier than the couple journeyed to Thailand the next month. They subsequently tried to return to the UK on April 26, earlier than being detained by Turkish police.
A GoFundMe fundraiser had been established by Taylor’s household in a bid to cowl his authorized prices, nonetheless the web page seems to have since been eliminated.
TAKEN FROM FACEBOOK WITHOUT PERMISSION Brit ‘drug mule’ couple going through 30 years in Turkish jail after ‘making an attempt to smuggle two suitcases of hashish to UK’https://www.fb.com/holly.cooper.965580/images (Picture: Fb/Holly Cooper)
The web page learn: “To some it might be cheeky however when you was put on this place you’d do something to have the ability to elevate the funds. Please if you don’t want to assist do not however when you might simply donate as little as pound it can all assist and be very a lot appreciated.”
A FCDO spokesperson mentioned: “We’re offering help to 2 British nationals detained in Turkey in addition to their households, and are in contact with native authorities.”
Final 12 months, British residents have been held in quite a few nations together with Spain, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Germany, Indonesia, Chile, and the USA, ceaselessly whereas carrying giant quantities of medication of their baggage.
In December 2025, the pinnacle of the NCA’s Borders Menace Staff, Beki Wright, issued a stark warning to people being enticed by felony gangs, significantly in locations resembling Thailand, with the promise of lavish holidays in return for transporting “packages”.
Wright mentioned: “Do not danger your life for a free vacation. Couriers are risking a probably life-changing conviction and jail sentence and we proceed to focus on them as a part of our ongoing efforts to interrupt the provision chain.
“We proceed to warn anybody who’s tempted by a fast pay day or free vacation in return for smuggling medication, resembling hashish, the dangers are big and the prospect of getting caught could be very excessive. It simply is not price it.”
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