One of the infamous ‘Peru Two’ drug mules jailed for smuggling 11kg of cocaine into the South American countries is now working to help people at homeless shelters to kick their addictions.
Scottish woman Melissa Reid was caught with Michaella McCollum as they tried to smuggle £1.5 million worth of drugs through Jorge Chavez airport in Lima
She served three years of her sentence before being deported.
Melissa now works for the Simon Community in Motherwell, where she is helping out people struggling with addiction to kick their habits.
Her colleagues have praised her, calling her a “high performer”, “emotionally intelligent”, adding that she is a “pleasure” to work with.
(Image: BBC / Blast FilmsM)
A source told Central Recorder: “Melissa is doing really well and moving on with her career. The unit helps people who abuse drugs and alcohol.
“Apparently she came in to oversee the service and has landed a manager’s role.
“As far as I’m aware, there was an incident where one resident was thrown out by her as they were suspected of dealing.”
In June, Melissa also received a promotion to become a service leader at the centre according to her LinkedIn page, and is also now studying for an HNC in social care.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
One of her colleagues said: “Her positivity and problem solving skills mean she can work on multiple projects . . . while maintaining an aura of calm and a great sense of humour.”
Melissa made international headlines in 2013 when she was caught with 11kg of cocaine at Jorge Chavez international airport in Peru along with Michaella McCollum.
Aged just 19 at the time, Melissa was sentenced to six years in prison before being deported in 2016.
The pair initially claimed that they had been forced to carry out the smuggling by armed dealers, but later confessed to packing the illicit substances for a £5,000 payment.
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