The two women arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle cocaine worth €1.7 million out of Peru have been refused bail.
20 year-olds Michaella McCollum from Co Tyrone and Melissa Reid from Scotland could now face up to three years in jail awaiting trial.
They claim they were forced to carry the drugs by an armed gang.
Michaella's lawyer Peter Madden said he had hopes the court would consider bail while prosecutors prepare thier case.
If convicted of trafficking they could face between 8 and 15 years behind bars.
Sky's Nick Martin, who's in Lima, says the strain is beginning to show:
