Autistic British Man, 33, Trapped in Turkish Prison After Allegedly Being Tricked Into Carrying £250,000 Worth of Cannabis

A British family is desperately fighting to bring their loved one home after a 33-year-old man with autism and significant learning disabilities was detained in a Turkish prison over a suitcase containing approximately 15 kilograms of cannabis. Louis Malletier, whose twin brother describes him as having the mental age of an eight-year-old, is being held at Maltepe Prison in Istanbul after allegedly becoming caught up in an international drug-smuggling scheme. His family believes criminals deliberately targeted him because of his vulnerability and trusting nature.

According to his twin brother, Conor Colegate, Louis disappeared on September 24 after telling his carer that he was taking a train to visit their parents in Kent. Instead, he reportedly boarded an international flight the following day, believing he had won an all-expenses-paid holiday to Thailand. His lawyer says Louis was approached at a pop-up event in London and persuaded to accept what appeared to be a competition prize. However, after arriving in Southeast Asia, the travel arrangements allegedly changed, and he was pressured into carrying a suitcase to Europe. When he landed in Istanbul, Turkish authorities discovered around 15 kilograms of cannabis, reportedly worth approximately £250,000, inside his luggage.

The family did not immediately know where Louis had gone. Their first indication of the nightmare came when their father received a brief WhatsApp video call. Conor said his brother was screaming and crying, visibly distressed as he explained that he was going to prison for drug smuggling. The family later hired Turkish lawyer Aziz Emre Yilmaz, who located Louis at Maltepe Prison. According to Conor, the lawyer was deeply concerned by Louis’s condition during their meeting. Louis reportedly described being housed with around 70 other men, being bullied by inmates and repeatedly woken whenever he tried to sleep. He also said he had very few clothes and was so frightened by the conditions that he had attempted to take his own life.

For Conor, the situation is particularly painful because he knows how easily his brother can be manipulated. He described Louis as a kind-hearted man who wants everyone to be his friend and struggles to recognize danger. The family believes criminal recruiters exploited those characteristics by disguising a drug-running operation as an innocent holiday opportunity. Louis’s lawyer has emphasized that his autism, learning disabilities and possible susceptibility to coercion must be carefully considered before any decision is made about his criminal responsibility. The legal team is seeking a forensic psychiatric assessment to establish his capacity to understand the alleged offense and the circumstances surrounding his involvement.

The potential consequences are severe. According to Louis’s lawyer, importing narcotics into Turkey can carry a prison sentence starting at 20 years, while transporting drugs can carry a sentence starting at 10 years. Authorities are examining the circumstances of the case, including whether Louis was merely passing through Turkey. Meanwhile, his family says efforts to obtain assistance from British authorities were initially difficult. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that it is supporting a British national detained in Turkey and is in contact with local authorities. Conor has also launched a fundraising campaign to help cover legal expenses and travel costs as he prepares to visit his brother.

Louis’s family is now facing an agonizing wait, uncertain about his safety and how long the legal process may take. His twin brother has also launched a campaign calling for stronger protections against the criminal exploitation of vulnerable people. Louis’s lawyer warned that organized criminal groups often disguise illegal activity as harmless opportunities, targeting people whose developmental or mental health conditions may make them easier to manipulate. For the family, the priority is clear: ensure Louis receives a fair assessment, protect him while he remains detained and find a way to bring him home. What began as what he believed was a dream holiday has instead become a frightening ordeal thousands of miles away from the people who love him.

Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40907756/autistic-twin-groomed-drug-smuggling-turkish-prison/