Ms Laura, 33 from Hull, who has been detained in Egypt for bringing nearly 300 Tramadol tablets into the country made “an innocent, honest mistake.” her brother said.
Photo Laura with her Egyptian partner
Ms Plummer’s family has been told she could face up to 25 years in prison, or even the death penalty.
Her brother James Plummer told BBC Radio 5 live that Ms Plummer
“She was visiting her husband for holiday. Laura visit him between two and four times a year.” The brother told BBC Radio 5 live.
Ms Plummer’s brother said she had taken some Tramadol with her to treat her husband’s back pain.
He said that Laura, a shop assistant, had told a colleague about her partner’s back pain and the work colleague replied that she could get some tablets from her GP. “They were prescribed to a friend of hers,” he said.
“So she took those over with her, Laura didn’t even check what they were, she didn’t even know there was Tramadol in the bag. There was also Naproxen as well.”
“It is difficult to get certain things in Egypt apparently so she’d taken talcum powder, shaving gel and razor blades and all sorts of things,” he said.
Tramadol is the most abused drug in Egypt, according to Ghada Wali, the country’s Minister of Social Solidarity.
In August, she said that the Drug Control Fund, which she chairs, received the most calls about Tramadol on its free helpline – which overall received 48,000 calls between January and June.
Ms Plummer is now being held in jail where Mr Turner said she is sharing a cell with between 20 to 30 other women in Egypt.
The family describe Laura as somebody who is very naïve.
“Her father said to me ‘look, the truth is she wouldn’t know Tramadol from a Panadol. She wouldn’t have a clue that she was doing something unlawful.” Mr. Turner said.
He said that a British Embassy representative has been visiting Ms Plummer regularly and has been in touch with her family.
