I should have added:HEPZIBAH wrote:Why is that whenever something like this happens there is a chorus of '...won't help tourism'? Excuse me while I
Every country has rules about what you can and cannot take in, and when it comes to drugs it is usually outlined that certain medications, if allowed into the particular country, have to have a copy of the prescription and/or a doctor's letter/certificate with them as proof. There may still also be a limit on quantity. If they are allowed in to a particular country it is for personal use anyway.
If Tramadol is not available over the counter in the UK, and I don't believe it is, the it has been gained either by the woman getting it on personal prescription, or possibly over the internet. If by personal prescription than giving it to anyone else is a) illegal and b) potentially highly dangerous. Obtaining drugs by personal prescription for the use of others is also fraud in the UK. So, this woman has not only broken the law in Egypt, but potentially also in the UK. Execution or even a long prison sentence is more than extreme, but this woman certainly needs the book throwing at her.
Tramadol is not the most expensive drug available to the NHS, but its value on the Black Market probably makes it quite a lucrative item to sell on. Egypt has been trying to clean up its problem with drug addicts so anyone taking in drugs that are know to be a problem are likely to show up on the radar, whether they are for personal or non personal use. This is why it is so important to carry the relevant documentation.