Brit boy, 6, arrested in £1.6m smuggling plot after 14kgs of drugs found stuffed in his case when he landed in Mauritius
The boy was part of a group which had flown to the African island from Gatwick
BOY 'SMUGGLER' Brit boy, 6, arrested in £1.6m smuggling plot after 14kgs of drugs found stuffed in his case when he landed in Mauritius
A SIX-year-old British boy was arrested in Mauritius suspected of smuggling part of a £1.6million dope haul stuffed inside his wheelie case.
The lad was picked up by customs officials along with his mum and five other Brits as they arrived on the tropical island on Sunday.
Advertisement
6
The boy has since gone home to his family after the ordeal
6
Shannon Holness at court after allegedly being involved in the plot
Credit: defimedia.info
6
Shona Campbell arrives at court
Credit: defimedia.info
6
Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean
Credit: Alamy
Suspicious customs officials swooped at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport and found a whopping 161 kilos of cannabis stuffed into several suitcases belonging to the group, including 14 kilos hidden inside the child's bag.
The boy's mum was also arrested and had 17 kilos hidden in her own bags.
The other Brits arrested included Laura Kappen, 28, a bar worker from Orton Goldhay, Cambs, Shannon Holness, 29, a caterer, from Bretton, Cambs, Shona Campbell, 33, a cleaner from Standground, Cambs, Lily Watson, a caterer from Peterborough, Cambs, and window fitter Patrick Wilsdon, 21, also from Peterborough.
Romanian national, Florian Lisman, 38, a machine operator living in Huntingdon, was also arrested.
Advertisement
Authorities on Mauritius branded the use of a child in the audacious drug smuggling plot as 'inhumane".
On Wednesday the boy, who had no clue of the drugs in his bag, was flown back to the UK with his dad who came to collect him.
Eleven numbered Apple AirTags found with the massive drugs haul, suggest the group was likely part of an organised crime network responsible for transporting drugs from Europe to Mauritius.
The drugs cache was found during a joint operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU) at the airport.
Advertisement
The group had flown into Mauritius on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick last Sunday.
The accused appeared in court in Mahébourg on June 23 and seven remain in custody.
Drugs kingpins guilty of plotting murder and running drugs empire on EncroChat
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.'
Accused Patrick's shocked mother Carly Wilsdon said her son had just started work as a window fitter in Peterborough and had gone to Mauritius after being offered a 'free holiday'.
Advertisement
It was only the second time he had been abroad in his life.
She said: 'He was told it was a free holiday. He wouldn't have known what he was doing because he wouldn't get involved in drugs.
6
Shannon Holness, a caterer, was arrested at the airport
Credit: Facebook
6
Mauritius is known as a holiday island with beautiful beaches
Credit: Alamy
Advertisement
'The person who told them about this free holiday is one of his circle of friends but now he has disappeared.
'He told them that he had been before and that they would meet someone there. There was no mention of drugs.
'It is so hard. He could be looking at 30 years. He has never been in trouble and only been abroad once before.
'I missed a call from him on the day they arrived. I thought it was to show me the apartment. I can't believe what's happened.'
Advertisement
She added: 'We've had no contact with him. He's got lots of issues, he's vulnerable.
'He doesn't know any of the group. He just went there with his girlfriend Lily Watson.'
Speaking outside her home on the outskirts of Peterborough, a relative of Laura Kappen said: 'She is not a bad kid. She's never done anything wrong in her life but I guess she has done something foolish. Someone must have enticed them with money.'
A relative of Shona Campbell said: 'It is really difficult. She's got two little kids and they don't know. It's horrible.'
Advertisement
Spate of Brit drug arrests worldwide
A SLEW of drug mule cases invovling Brits have emerged in the last few weeks
In April-May, Two other Brit women were arrested abroad for alleged drug smuggling.
Glam tourist Bella Culley allegedly tried to smuggle a suitcase of weed into Georgia and was locked away in a brutal ex-Soviet prison despite claiming to be pregnant.
The 18-year-old was sent to the brutal Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in the town of Rustavi - a slammer notorious for its hellish conditions just outside Tbilisi.
She had originally jetted to the Philippines to meet an old friend, but reportedly changed her plans last minute to go to Thailand with a gang of British lads unknown to her.
A sentence ranging from 20 years to life could be a possibility for teen Bella from County Durham, according to prosecutors.
Meanwhile, former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee was then caught allegedly trying to smuggle drugs worth £1.2million into Sri Lanka.
Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl.
If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence.
Meanwhile, a young mum is being detained in Germany for allegedly smuggling cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand - in yet another shocking case.
Glamorous Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, Herts, was detained at Munich Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage.
It comes as a Brit couple claiming to be tourists from Thailand have been busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport.
The pair were picked out by suspicious cops at Valencia Airport after displaying a 'nervous and evasive attitude' and are now behind bars on drug trafficking charges.
Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world.
The drugs bust comes amid a spate of British drug mule arrests in recent months.
Brit Lee Adams, who went missing on Mauritius, was arrested on May 24 on suspicion of smuggling £110,000 worth of cannabis into the East African nation.
Lee, 40, from Yardley, Birmingham, was intercepted as he arrived at the airport and customs officers found 5.75 kilos of cannabis concealed in his suitcase.
According to local news reports Adams, who was confronted with the evidence during an interrogation, admitted his role and was arrested on the spot.
Advertisement
Investigators immediately launched a "controlled delivery" operation on the holiday island and two suspected accomplices, both believed to be British, were also arrested.
An investigation has been launched and the trio remain in custody.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
24 minutes ago
- NBC News
North American Airlines targeted by cyberattacks
At least two North American airlines have been victims of criminal hackers recently as cybersecurity companies warn that a notorious cybercriminal group has been targeting the aviation industry. Westjet and Hawaii airlines both said in June statements that they are responding to cyberattacks. American Airlines also experienced a tech issue on Friday, though it's unclear if it was related or caused in any way by hackers. 'A technology issue is affecting connectivity for some of our systems and we are working with our partners to fully resolve the issue,' an American Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. 'Though we are experiencing delays as a result, we have not canceled any flights at this time.' Cybersecurity companies that work directly with companies hit by hackers usually refrain from talking about specific victims, citing nondisclosure agreements. But both Google and Palo Alto Networks said Friday that they have observed a particularly effective cybercriminal group, nicknamed Scattered Spider by the cybersecurity industry, that tries to hack companies involved in aviation. Scattered Spider is a loosely affiliated group of young, mostly English-speaking men who are extremely adept at sweet-talking their way into sensitive computer access at large companies. From there, they often hand that access to outside cybercriminals who install ransomware — malicious software that locks up computers, rendering them inoperable — and then demand an extortion payment. The group has been tied to attacks on Las Vegas casinos in 2023 and British department stores earlier this year. After Google warned that Scattered Spider was targeting American retailers, a cyberattack hobbled a top Whole Foods supplier, leading to empty shelves across the country. Charles Carmakal, the chief technology officer of Mandiant, Google's cloud security company, said in an emailed statement that it was tracking 'multiple incidents in the airline and transportation sector' where Scattered Spider had broken in. 'We are still working on attribution and analysis, but given the habit of this actor to focus on a single sector we suggest that the industry take steps immediately to harden systems,' he said. Details on the effects of the attacks on airlines are still sparse. A WestJet spokesperson told NBC News in an email that the company first noticed it had been hacked on June 13 and has made 'significant progress' to resolve it. Hawaiian Airlines said in a Friday filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it discovered on Monday that it had been hacked and that 'Flights are currently operating safely and as scheduled.'
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England
The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024 LOO-NACY! Police slammed over daft hate crimes including trans woman banned from ladies loo & man singing Scots song in England COPS are still logging bizarre hate incidents — including the singing of anthem Flower of Scotland at an English railway station. An investigation by The Sun reveals how police — under fire for not catching shoplifters and burglars — are wasting vital time on the 'non-crime hate incidents'. 5 Police across Britain stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints (stock picture) Credit: Alamy 5 One force probed concerns about a man singing anthem Flower of Scotland at an English train station (stock picture) Credit: PA:Press Association 5 Cops also investigated a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo (stock picture) Credit: Alamy Former officers and MPs want the 'crackers' cases scrapped. Police stand accused of failing to tackle 'actual crimes' while instead investigating 'hate' complaints — including one about a pub landlord who stopped a transgender woman using his ladies' loo. Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway. Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo. The bizarre cases were among at least 6,300 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) recorded in 2024. The true figure would be much higher as 15 of the 44 police forces in England and Wales did not disclose figures under a Freedom of Information request. MPs and top cops led calls to stop wasting time on NCHIs, which are recorded where no criminal offence has been committed but the 'victim' feels it was motivated by hate or prejudice. Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick said: 'We have lost the plot. 'Practically everyone in the country will have at some point said something that would get them reported. 'This is crackers. Moment Met boss dodges question over two-tier policing of riots by grabbing reporters' mic & chucking it to floor 'We need to scrap NCHIs altogether.' Reform UK's Lee Anderson added: 'The majority of these incidents are reported by total snowflakes. 'These are the people who should be charged with wasting police time. 'Officers should be investigating proper crimes not hurt feelings. 'Those who complain should go and live on a remote island with some of our celebrities who make a living out of being offended.' The person in Bedfordshire upset by the Where's Wally tattoo also complained of the supervisor asking about their shoes and requests to remove their durag hair covering. The incident was recorded as 'sex-based and hate-motivated'. The police log obtained by The Sun says: 'The victim felt irritated for the rest of the shift as it was mean and uncalled for.' In Dunstable, Beds, a complainant said they heard a neighbour gossiping on their Ring doorbell, then point at their home and make an insult before walking off. Bedfordshire Police said: 'We record hate related incidents in line with national guidance set out by the College of Policing.' South Wales Police, which dealt with the trans row, recorded 40 NCHIs last year. It said one 'perpetrator' was aged nine, another 11. Humberside Police logged the case where a person put on an Indian accent to order a curry. West Yorkshire Police handled 175 complaints — one from a man who claimed his bins kept being moved because he was gay. Forces that did not provide their figures included London's Met — the UK's biggest — West Midlands, Essex and Devon and Cornwall. Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: 'These examples are ludicrous and a total waste of police time. 'Waste of police time' 'It is not a policing matter if someone is singing Flower of Scotland. 'If it were, the whole of the Met would have to be deployed when Scotland play rugby at Twickenham. 'These are mostly juvenile situations and officers should not lower themselves to getting involved. 'It is a serious problem when a lot of actual crimes are not investigated.' NCHIs were introduced in 2014 and are meant to help forces develop intelligence on situations that could potentially escalate. In some cases, cops speak to those supposedly committing offences. An NCHI can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. A report this week by think tank Civitas called for NCHIs to be abolished. Author Hardeep Singh said: 'Some activist groups continue to weaponise them against their political opponents. "We've seen the most absurd incidents being recorded over the years, and precious police resources should not be drained by policing online ideological disputes.' 5 Cops also logged a case after a caller put on an Indian accent to order a chicken tikka masala from a takeaway Credit: Getty - Contributor 5 Another force was contacted by a person whose new boss called their designer clothes 'fake' and told them of an intimate Where's Wally tattoo Credit: Alamy In 2023, the Home Office issued guidance instructing officers to consider if there was genuine hostility in the incident or whether it could be considered freedom of speech. Earlier this month, Greater Manchester Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said the policy of recording NCHIs had 'passed its sell-by date'. Sir Andy Marsh, head of standards body the College of Policing, called on officers to use more 'common sense' and signalled that the recording of NCHIs needs to be scrapped. He said: 'What we've wrapped up that objective in doesn't stand up to scrutiny on many occasions under the common-sense test. 'We need to fix it. 'I don't want to be policing freedom of speech.'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
British six-year-old detained ‘for smuggling drugs into Mauritius'
A six-year-old British boy was detained in Mauritius after customs officials found 14 kilograms of cannabis hidden inside his suitcase. The child was stopped at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport alongside seven other people as they disembarked from a British Airways flight from Gatwick on Sunday, local media reported. The group was reportedly carrying more than 161 kilograms (355 pounds) of cannabis hidden in their luggage, with the stash valued at £1.6 million. Seven of the suspects were British, including the boy whose luggage reportedly contained 24 packages of drugs wrapped in clear cellophane. The eighth suspect was reported to be a Romanian living in Britain. Mauritian authorities described the use of the child's luggage to transport the drugs as 'outrageous and inhumane', adding 'this is one of the most revolting cases we have encountered in recent years'. Flown back to UK The boy, who was unaware of the contents of his bag, was reportedly flown back to the UK on Wednesday and is staying with his father. The suspects each carried Apple AirTags, which can be fixed to an item to track its location via an app, and up to £900 in cash. Apple trackers are thought to be used by international drug trafficking gangs to help smugglers keep tabs on their shipments. The authorities are reportedly treating the group as part of an organised crime network responsible for smuggling drugs from Europe to Mauritius. Le Mauricien, a local media outlet, reported that seven suspects were charged with drug trafficking and placed in custody. The adult suspects appeared at Mahebourg court on the island's south-eastern coast on Monday, with all remaining in pre-trial detention. Raids on hotels Authorities then carried out a series of targeted raids on hotels containing British nationals after police received a lead that more foreign passengers may have been transporting drugs, local media said. No further suspects were arrested at any of the three locations searched. A Foreign Office spokesman told The Sun newspaper: 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.'
