UK couple on Venezuela holiday arrested for cocaine smuggling

A couple from the UK, who were on holiday in Venezuela with their children, have been charged with attempting to leave the country carrying cocaine worth millions of pounds in their suitcases.

Paul and Laura Makin and their four children were travelling on a First Choice package holiday to Margarita Island, off Venezuela, when the couple was arrested at Porlamar airport.

It is alleged that they were found carrying 24kgs of the illegal drug in secret compartments in three of their suitcases, as they were attempting to board their flight back to London earlier this week.

The couple was detained, and the four children, ages two to eight, were taken into care.

On Thursday night the four children, who had been in foster care, were reunited with family members who travelled to Margarita after hearing news of the couple’s arrest.

The street value of the cocaine is said to be worth in the range of £1.2 million to £9 million.

Councillor Brian Kenny, who is the chairman of governors at the school attended by one of the children, Mersey Park Primary, said: “It is obviously a very traumatic situation for the children – the whole situation sounds really horrific.”

John Wheate, the Makins’ solicitor, commented that he was working on the repatriation of the children.

Thanks to news.scotsman.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.firstchoice.co.uk