Nightclub hostess Michaella McCollum Connolly (L) and Melissa Reid Two women have been arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling in Peru, local police have said. Michaella McCollum Connolly, 20, from Belfast and Scot Melissa Reid , 19, are each alleged to have been carrying almost 6kg of cocaine in their luggage. The two were due to fly to Madrid, then Majorca, but were then stopped and searched at the capital Lima\'s international airport on Tuesday.
A statement on the site said the cocaine had been hidden inside packages of food, with an estimated street value of about £1.5m (1.7m euros).
The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Ms Connolly\'s family.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London said: \"We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Peru this week and are providing consular assistance to the family.\"
Ms Connolly had earlier been reported missing in Ibiza after failing to contact her family for several days.
The photography student had gone to the Ibizan town of San Antonio in June to look for work as a dancer or a nightclub hostess.
After hearing nothing from her for 12 days, her family appealed on Facebook and other social media websites for any information of her whereabouts.