British couple detained in Turkey for cannabis smuggling

A British couple from the West Midlands face up to 30 years in a Turkish prison after authorities detained them in Istanbul for allegedly attempting to smuggle two suitcases filled with cannabis into the United Kingdom.

Holly Cooper and Taylor Johnson, both 20 and from the Wednesbury area, were arrested on April 26 while transferring flights from Thailand to London. Turkish police intercepted them at Istanbul Airport before they could board their connecting flight. The pair had traveled to Thailand the previous month, following a trip to Gran Canaria in February where Cooper shared holiday photos online.

After questioning, officials placed Cooper and Johnson in an overcrowded holding cell. Relatives claim Johnson was assaulted by other detainees there. The couple has since been transferred to another facility and assigned state-appointed lawyers, with no private representation. Their case may not reach court for up to a year.

Friends and family have expressed concern over their situation. A family friend described them as "good kids" who "did something stupid this time, but everyone makes mistakes." The friend added that they had been "recruited and groomed by bigger criminals...