British Man Arrested in Peru with 55kg of Cocaine

Peruvian authorities have arrested three individuals, including a British national, following the seizure of 55 kilograms of cocaine allegedly supplied by a Bulgarian bodybuilder, Petko Vasilev Mikov. Described as a significant figure in the drug trafficking scene, Mikov was reportedly collaborating with Irish and British criminals to facilitate the smuggling of cocaine from South America to Europe. The arrests were made after the suspects were placed under surveillance upon their arrival in Peru. Police Chief Arturo Valverde, who leads the anti-drugs unit Dirandro, confirmed that the British and Irish nationals were detained after being observed meeting at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport. The two men had rented an apartment in the La Molina district and a Nissan vehicle, where they allegedly loaded the cocaine intended for transport to the UK. Eyewitness accounts described the Irish suspect as visibly distressed when law enforcement intervened. All three men are currently in custody, facing potential sentences of up to five years if convicted. The exact timing of the arrests remains unclear, but local reports suggest that additional arrests may have occurred involving suppliers connected to Mikov's operations. The incident has drawn comparisons to previous drug smuggling cases in Peru, notably the arrests of Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid in 2013, who were sentenced to over six years in prison for similar offenses. The Mirror has reached out to the Foreign Office for further comment on the situation.