Croydon woman faces life in Cambodia over 34kg cannabis

Tamara Martins, a 31-year-old model booker from Croydon, is being held in a Cambodian prison accused of drug smuggling. Authorities at Techo Airport found 34kg of cannabis in her luggage as she attempted to leave the country.

Ms Martins claims she was unaware of the contents of the suitcase she was carrying. She stated that a man approached her at a bar and asked her to transport a suitcase of electronics to the UK for a fee. According to her account, she only discovered the drugs when she was stopped by airport officials.

Conditions and Family Concerns

In a letter to her brother, Trey, Ms Martins described her detention as "hell" and reported being unable to sleep or eat. She is sharing a cell with approximately 60 other individuals and sleeping on the floor. Ms Martins is a mother to a 10-year-old daughter, who her brother is shielding from the news of her arrest.

Trey Martins has established a GoFundMe page to raise money for his sister's legal defence and support. He stated that the family is doing everything they can from the UK, including contacting British authorities and arranging welfare support, but the costs of legal representation and international support are beyond their means.

Cambodian Law and UK Trends

Cambodia operates a strict zero-tolerance policy on drugs, with potential penalties including life sentences for trafficking offences. The Foreign Office has reported that drug-smuggling arrests involving British nationals abroad have more than quadrupled between 2023 and 2025.