British Grandmother on Indonesia Death Row Returns to London
Lindsay Sandiford, a 69-year-old British grandmother, was freed and repatriated to the UK on humanitarian grounds after being sentenced to death for smuggling cocaine into Indonesia.
Background and Sentence
Sandiford was convicted in 2013 on the Indonesian island of Bali for trafficking cocaine valued at US$2.14 million. Indonesia enforces some of the strictest drug laws globally.
Release and Repatriation
She was released alongside Shahab Shahabadi, 36, who had been serving a life sentence for drug-related offenses since 2014.
Both left Bali on a Qatar Airways flight bound for London via Doha, confirmed by Indonesia’s law and human rights ministry official on November 7, 2025.
Upon arrival at Heathrow Terminal 4, Sandiford was wheelchair-bound, covered her face with a jacket, and was escorted by security staff without speaking.
Official Statements
“Two British nationals who were detained in Indonesia have now returned to the UK,” said a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office.
Context on Indonesia’s Drug Policy
- Indonesia has the toughest drug laws worldwide.
- In the past year, the country has released over half a dozen high-profile detainees on humanitarian grounds.
Sandiford’s case highlights a rare example of clemency given the severity of Indonesia’s drug sentencing practices.
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