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.'
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