A British woman is facing trial in an Egyptian criminal court for allegedly attempting to smuggle powerful painkillers which are banned in the Arab country but legal in the UK.

Laura Plummer, 33, was arrested last month at Hurghada airport after she had 290 tramadol tablets in her suitcase.

She has maintained her innocence and insisted the tablets were for her Egyptian partner who suffers from chronic back pain.

Ms Plummer, from Hull, faces a long prison sentence if convicted and she has been held in a 15ft by 15ft cell with 25 other women for weeks.

Image: Ms Plummer says her partner Omar Caboo suffers from chronic back pain

MP Karl Turner said her partner Omar Caboo has shown evidence which proves he has a bad back, and therefore confirms she was bringing the medication to Egypt for him from the UK.


Tramadol is listed by Egyptian authorities as an illegal drug because of its wide use as a heroin substitute.

The MP said: "Tramadol is a controlled Class C drug in the UK, and is banned entirely in Egypt because it's a recreation drug of choice and changes hands for money and is very addictive and they are desperate to stamp it out."

Image: Ms Plummer faces a long prison sentence if convicted

Mr Turner said of Ms Plummer: "She's a woman of good character in this country from a law-abiding family, and clearly the whole thing will be a dreadful experience.

"Even for the most ardent criminal, this would be a terribly frightening experience. She's sharing a cell with at least 25 other women, none of which speak English."