The grandmother of a British man arrested after allegedly being found with three suitcases of cocaine in Venezuela has spoken of her shock.
Margaret Makin said she was stunned that grandson Paul Makin and his wife Laura were detained by police at Porlamar airport on the holiday island of Margarita.
The couple were arrested with four children who were taken into the care of social services while relatives from Merseyside fly out to be with them.
Speaking from her semi-detached home in Moreton, Mrs Makin said: "This has shattered me. I knew he was going on holiday but the first I heard about this was when a relative rang this morning saying 'Have you got a Paul and Laura Makin?' I said Yes, and they told me the news."
Mrs Makin, a widow who has six sons, added: "I couldn't believe it. I didn't know he was going to Venezuela and I have no idea what's going on and if it is a mistake. I am just so shocked.
"I haven't even got a phone number for his mother and I haven't heard from the Foreign Office though I think the family are taking care of it all. The last I heard was that Paul and Laura were getting divorced - I think that is still the case.
"I couldn't believe the news of this when I heard it - that they were caught with coke."
The pair were allegedly about to fly to London on Monday when they were held with 24kg of cocaine (52lb), Sky News reported. The children, believed to be twins aged two, and a seven and eight year old, were placed with a foster family.
People living in Allerton Grove, Birkenhead, said Laura Makin moved from a terraced property in the area about six months ago. Saying that the couple were estranged, one neighbour who did not want to be named, said: "Laura always seemed nice and you'd see her with the kids.
"She lived there alone. I can't believe the Laura Makin in the news is the same one.
