A former flight attendant was caught allegedly smuggling a significant quantity of a new drug made of human bone and now faces up to 25 years behind bars in Thailand.
In a case that has captured international attention, 21-year-old former flight attendant Charlotte May Lee from Coulsdon, South London, was arrested at Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for allegedly smuggling over 100 pounds of a dangerous new synthetic drug known as “kush.” Authorities claim the street value of the drugs is approximately $3.3 million, marking the largest seizure of kush in Sri Lanka.
Lee, who previously worked as a flight attendant for TUI, was reportedly traveling from Bangkok to Sri Lanka when customs officials discovered the drugs concealed in her luggage. She maintains her innocence, asserting that the drugs were planted in her bags while she was out the night before her flight. Lee had traveled to Sri Lanka to await the renewal of her Thai visa after working on a “booze cruise” in Thailand.
The drug in question, “kush,” is a synthetic substance originating from West Africa and reportedly made using human bones soaked in embalming fluid. When smoked, kush induces a “zombie-like” high similar to synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as “spice.” The bizarre and disturbing nature of the case has drawn public attention and is featured in an episode of “Weird But True,” hosted by Andrew Court of The New York Post.
21-year-old former flight attendant has been arrested after authorities uncovered a $3.3 million trafficking operation.
Not in cocaine or fentanyl, but in a new drug made from human bones.You read that right.
HUMAN BONES.
Officials say the disturbing substance was being… pic.twitter.com/mkxjdPyc2k
— AmericaReal (@AmericaReal3) May 30, 2025
As Kush is a new drug, there is conflicting information about its substance. Some reports indicate that it may not include “human bone” elements, while others state that it does, as does the New York Post.
“The composition of kush is similarly unclear; it is described as a combination of cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, 2 formaldehyde, 3 disinfectants4 and – according to some media reports – ground human bones. 3,5 Tests by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime 6 found that the drug contains synthetic cannabinoids and nitazenes.” – Social Science In Humanitarian Action Platform
If convicted, Lee faces up to 25 years in prison and is currently being held in harsh jail conditions. Her case has drawn comparisons to other incidents involving flight attendants and drug smuggling.
Flight Attendants and Drug Smuggling: A Troubling Trend
The aviation industry has seen several cases where flight attendants have been implicated in drug smuggling operations. In 2024, four flight attendants were charged in connection with smuggling drug money to the Dominican Republic. The defendants, who had “Known Crewmember” status with the Transportation Security Administration, were accused of smuggling approximately $8 million in bulk cash from the United States to the Dominican Republic over several years.
These cases highlight vulnerabilities in airport security systems, particularly concerning the trust placed in airline employees. Experts have warned that flight crews are exploiting major security loopholes at airports to smuggle drugs, taking advantage of programs like the Known Crewmember Program, which allows flight crew members to undergo lighter security screenings.
It’s unclear if the accused was utilizing similar crew member access with her prior credentials or if she was traveling as a passenger via conventional security methods.
Drug Smuggling in Popular Culture: ‘Jackie Brown’ and ‘Brokedown Palace’
The complexities of drug smuggling and the individuals involved have been explored in various films. In Quentin Tarantino’s 1997 film “Jackie Brown,” the titular character, a flight attendant, is caught smuggling money for a gunrunner. Faced with legal consequences, she devises a plan to double-cross both the authorities and her employer to secure her freedom and financial security.
Another film which resonates more with this situation, “Brokedown Palace” (1999), portrays the story of two American friends imprisoned in Thailand for alleged drug smuggling. The film delves into the harsh realities of foreign legal systems and the challenges faced by individuals who may be unwittingly involved in criminal activities. While I’d prefer to avoid spoiler alerts, the film is 26 years old. In this film, several unwitting passengers had drugs placed into their luggage and the drug runner called in an anonymous tip on one of them to distract police from the others.
A real life example was Australian surfer, Schapelle Corby, found with 4.2 kgs of marijuana at Denpasar International Airport (Bali.) She maintained her innocence and filed several unsuccessful appeals, serving nine years of a 15-year sentence.
Conclusion
The case of Charlotte May Lee underscores the severe consequences individuals can face when implicated in drug smuggling, whether knowingly or unknowingly – check your luggage before you get to the check-in desk or security apparatus. It also brings to light the methods used by traffickers to exploit individuals and the potential vulnerabilities within the aviation industry’s security protocols. As investigations continue, it remains essential to approach such cases with a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved.
What do you think?
With those milk jugs I’ll be sending her money to her commissary.
See, if she was so money hungry to smuggle drugs, she could do some sort of sex work, like Only Fans and stay legal. Jim would pay.
Must be cold in that room. Her high beams are on.
Thai prisoners are known to have to eat maggot meal
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2195072/U-S-woman-forced-eat-MAGGOTS-locked-Thai-prison-NINE-YEARS.html
Question : If she was caught in Sri Lanka , why would Kyle write she faces 25 years in Thailand ? Wouldn’t it be in Sri Lanka ? Just asking .
I like milk!
Nice cans. They’ll love her in jail.
Love the fact that the headlights are on!
She can smuggle my bone.
I love the show To Catch a Smuggler and of course the standard line is “someone must have put the drugs in my bag.” I’m struggling to believe her story.
How can someone not notice that their bags are 100 lbs heavier than when she left them?
I live in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and in the Immigration and baggage area there are plenty of signs warning that there is a death penalty for smuggling drugs. OK, it hasn’t been enforced for a while and is even less likely to be imposed on a foreigner but the warnings are there.
Sounds like someone made some bad choices and is now regretting it.
Robert –
I was going to comment on how I recall seeing a sign immediately upon entering Columbus airport saying the smugglers will be executed. I wish I took a picture
Oh no, yet another innocent foreigner caught in a dastardly scheme to smuggle drugs without their knowledge! Those shifty Asiatic and Subcontinental types will stop at nothing to mule their deadly wares about the place .
I identify as transgender now and volunteer to be placed as her cellmate
Too bad she’s not a wealthy WNBA athlete.
How do you not realize 100lbs added to your luggage ? As much as I feel for drug mules … how many people would be dead from getting their hands on the drugs she was smuggling.
Also the whole thing sounds rather sensationalized. I’m not 19 anymore, but kush is also a stoner term for a strain of regular old weed that predates this opioid/THC combo drug from West Africa by about 5 decades. Those bags sure look like vacuum sealed marijuana flower to me.
Not mentioning “Midnight Express” is embarrassing.
100 POUNDS and she didn’t notice the extra weight? That seems likely.
What relevance does the fact that she’s an ex flight attendant have? Except to fit your narrative to create another sensationalized flight attendant hit piece. Typical of this blog, I would’ve expected Matthew to have written this.
We serve to serve again.