A former U.K. flight attendant is facing the possibility of decades behind bars after being arrested in Sri Lanka with over 100 pounds of a disturbing new synthetic drug allegedly made using human bones.

According to the New York Post, Charlotte May Lee, 21, was taken into custody at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on May 12 after customs officials discovered multiple packages of “kush,” a dangerous and highly addictive narcotic with origins in West Africa, in her luggage.

Lee, a native of South London, told local authorities and British media that she was unaware the drugs were in her suitcase when she arrived in Sri Lanka from Bangkok, Thailand. The synthetic drug found in her possession, known as “kush,” has worsened drug crises in parts of West Africa and now appears to be spreading dangerously through Asia.

The seized contraband was valued at approximately $3.3 million. According to Sri Lankan customs officials, this is the country’s largest recorded kush seizure. Kush is particularly notorious not only for its devastating physiological effects—users can reportedly fall unconscious while walking or wander into traffic—but also for its disturbing production process, which is rumored to involve ground-up human bones.

Drug epidemic fueled by macabre production methods

Reports from Sierra Leone, where kush use has reached epidemic levels, suggest that grave robbers have exhumed bodies to harvest bones for the drug. Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, declared a national emergency last year to combat the surge in kush-related deaths, warning that the highly potent substance poses both a public health and national security threat.

"Kush is a death trap," President Bio stated previously, emphasizing its crippling grip on young people, especially men. The substance has become so pervasive in some areas that local officials attribute dozens of deaths per week directly to its use.

Sri Lankan officials believe the case involving Lee may indicate expanding kush trafficking routes through Asia. A senior customs officer in Colombo told the BBC that Lee was arrested after being profiled and compared her arrest to that of another British woman, Bella Culley, who was detained in Georgia two days earlier with over 30 pounds of marijuana and hashish.

Suspect claims innocence and says she was framed

Lee insists she had no idea the drugs were in her luggage. In an interview with the Daily Mail, she said, “I had never seen them before... I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff.” She added, “They must have planted it then. I know who did it,” though she has not made any names public.

According to her attorney, Sampath Perera, Lee was detained shortly after landing in Colombo from Bangkok, where she was awaiting the renewal of her visa. Her lawyer also confirmed that she remains in contact with her family members in the U.K., though they are deeply concerned for her well-being.

Lee is currently being held in a correctional facility north of the capital, where living conditions are reportedly bleak. According to sources familiar with the matter, she is sleeping on a concrete floor and facing extreme uncertainty about her legal fate.

Sri Lanka warns of trafficking through Bangkok

Authorities in Sri Lanka have warned of a sharp uptick in drug trafficking attempts through Bangkok, a common international travel hub. Officials are now strengthening security screening in hopes of preventing more cases like Lee’s.

“We arrested this lady based on profiling,” said a senior customs officer. “This has been a rule nuisance,” he added, referring to the surge of drug mules apprehended at international borders.

As the investigation continues, Sri Lankan officials have not commented on whether they are pursuing other potential suspects or whether they believe Lee was knowingly involved in the smuggling operation.

Why this story matters

This case highlights the growing international threat posed by a new breed of synthetic drugs that are both addictive and gruesomely manufactured. The arrest of a young British woman in Sri Lanka also raises serious questions about how easy it may be for traffickers to manipulate unsuspecting travelers. Furthermore, with the drug’s origin rooted in human theft and abuse, kush carries not only legal and health implications but also deep ethical concerns for communities worldwide. Stories like this demand attention to global anti-trafficking cooperation and awareness among international travelers.

Conclusion

Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old former flight attendant from south London, was arrested on May 12, 2025, at Sri Lanka’s main airport after authorities found over 100 pounds of kush, a synthetic drug partly made from human bones, in her luggage. She claims the drugs were planted and, while suggesting she knows who is responsible, has not named anyone. Facing up to 25 years in prison, her case has drawn international attention due to the drug’s disturbing composition and a rise in British involvement in trafficking through Asia.