British Grandmother on Indonesia Death Row Returns to London
Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British grandmother sentenced to death in Bali for smuggling US$2.14 million worth of cocaine, arrived back in the UK on November 7, 2025.
Background and Sentence
Sandiford was convicted of drug trafficking in 2013 on the tourist island of Bali. Indonesia enforces some of the strictest drug laws globally but has recently released several high-profile detainees.
Humanitarian Release and Repatriation
She was released on humanitarian grounds alongside Shahab Shahabadi, 36, who was serving a life sentence for drug offenses after his arrest in 2014. Both were flown from Bali to London via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.
Arrival in London
Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4, Sandiford left in a wheelchair, accompanied by security staff. She covered her face with a jacket and did not speak.
“Two British nationals who were detained in Indonesia have now returned to the UK,” said a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office.
Note on Indonesia's Drug Laws
- Indonesia maintains some of the toughest drug penalties worldwide.
- Recently, the country has released over half a dozen prominent prisoners on humanitarian or other grounds.
Author’s summary: British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford, sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug smuggling, was released on humanitarian grounds and safely returned to the UK in November 2025.