Brazilian woman returns home after Thailand drug trafficking sentence

Mary Hellen Coelho Silva, a 26-year-old Brazilian woman from Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, has returned to Brazil after serving approximately four years in prison in Thailand. She was originally arrested in February 2022 at Bangkok airport after authorities discovered approximately 15.5 kilograms of cocaine in her luggage, a quantity valued at roughly R$ 7.5 million at the time.

Silva was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison, along with a fine of 750,000 baht. Her sentence was significantly reduced through royal pardons granted by Thai authorities, a benefit she received due to her exemplary conduct and work within the prison system.

Her defense attorney, Kaelly Cavoli Moreira, noted that the period of incarceration was marked by significant personal loss, as Silva was unable to say goodbye to her mother and grandfather before they passed away. The attorney stated that the priority now is Silva's reintegration into her family and society.