British grandmother on Indonesia death row returns to London
Lindsay Sandiford, 69, a British grandmother convicted of smuggling US$2.14 million worth of cocaine into Indonesia, arrived back in the UK on November 7, 2025. She was sentenced to death in 2013 on the tourist island of Bali under Indonesia's stringent drug laws.
Sandiford was released and repatriated on humanitarian grounds alongside Shahab Shahabadi, 36, who had been serving a life sentence for drug offenses since 2014. Both flew from Bali to London via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, confirmed an official from Indonesia’s law and human rights ministry.
Upon arrival at Heathrow’s Terminal 4, Sandiford was escorted in a wheelchair by security staff, covering her face with a jacket and not speaking to the press.
“Two British nationals who were detained in Indonesia have now returned to the UK,” said a British Foreign Office spokesperson.
Indonesia, known for some of the world’s toughest drug laws, has recently released several high-profile detainees.
Flight and arrival details
- Flight routed via Doha on Qatar Airways
- Sandiford arrived on November 7, 2025
- Arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 in a wheelchair, escorted by security
Legal background
- Convicted of drug trafficking in Bali, 2013
- Sentenced to death under Indonesian drug laws
- Released on humanitarian grounds in 2025
Indonesia has eased its stance slightly by releasing multiple high-profile drug detainees over the past year.
Author’s summary: Lindsay Sandiford, sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia, was repatriated to the UK on humanitarian grounds, reflecting a recent shift in Indonesia's drug law enforcement practices.