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The Citizen
27-07-2025
- The Citizen
South African woman arrested in Bali for alleged drug smuggling
Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. Two people from Brazil and South Africa have been charged in Indonesia for allegedly trying to smuggle four kilograms (8.8 pounds) of drugs into Bali, the anti-narcotics agency said Thursday. The pair were travelling separately when they were arrested on 13 July at the resort island's international airport and could face the death penalty if found guilty. The Brazilian man was allegedly carrying two plastic bags containing just over three kilograms of cocaine in his backpack and luggage, I Made Sinar Subawa, from the local anti-narcotics agency, told a news conference. ALSO READ: Child of South African drug mule in Mauritius prison to return home Made said the suspect was a courier and had been told to deliver the package to a man living in Bali. The South African woman was arrested after arriving from Singapore on the same day with nearly one kilogram of crystal methamphetamine allegedly hidden in her clothing. 'Based on the interrogation, she confessed that she was ordered to carry the meth from Johannesburg to Bali, to be delivered to someone in Bali,' Made said. Indonesia has some of the world's toughest drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. There are dozens of traffickers on death row in the country, including a cocaine-smuggling British grandmother. ALSO READ: OR Tambo International now a hub for drug mules — expert Indonesia last carried out executions in 2016, killing one Indonesian and three Nigerian drug convicts by firing squad. Drug smuggling cases This is not the first case of South African women being arrested in foreign countries for drug smuggling. Mauritius has seen multiple arrests of South African women involved in drug trafficking. A South African woman was arrested after allegedly being caught with drugs with an estimated value of Rs 8 million (just over R3.3 million) at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in Mauritius on 17 September 2019. ALSO READ: Cocaine on a plane at OR Tambo – again: Drug mule nabbed with 33 'bullets' Mauritius' Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) in collaboration with the officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section of the MRA intercepted the woman coming from Reunion after being alerted of the 'suspicious behaviour' of the woman. The woman, 34-year-old Nokuphila Mtshali, from KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly introduced herself as a businesswoman who would be on the island for five days. The officials searched her and found three plastic-wrapped bundles in her private parts containing 528 grams of heroin. The woman reportedly cooperated with the officials, who arranged a fake delivery with fake drugs in an attempt to find her accomplices, reported Mauritius' The fake delivery led to the arrest of two Nigerian men, Ndubuisi Samuel Ebielonwu, 33, and Eze Collins, 31, and police confiscated an iPhone and cash in rands, Mauritian rupees, US dollar and naira. The woman was reportedly promised R40,000 for a successful delivery. ALSO READ: SA woman arrested for 'drugs in vagina' for two Nigerians in Mauritius A year before, 30-year-old Thami Nomathamsanqa Dyasi was allegedly caught with pellets of heroin weighing more than 1.25kg concealed in her private parts and stomach, according to Mauritian reports. Additional reporting by Vhahangwele Nemakonde
The Irish Sun
11-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Glut of Brit ‘drug mule' suspects grows after ANOTHER is arrested for ‘smuggling £110k of cannabis' to honeymoon island
A BRIT who went missing in Mauritius has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling £110,000 worth of cannabis onto the tropical island. Lee Adams, 40, was intercepted as he arrived at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport in the tiny East African country. Advertisement 6 Lee Adams (L) was intercepted as he arrived at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport Credit: Facebook 6 It's understood Adams, from Yardley, Birmingham, was behaving suspiciously as he got off the flight from London Gatwick Credit: Facebook 6 Adams, who works for a recruitment agency, failed to convince officials of the true nature of his trip Credit: Facebook It's understood Adams, from Yardley, Birmingham, was behaving suspiciously as he got off the flight from London Gatwick on May 24 and caught the eye of customs officers. And when Adams, who works for a recruitment agency, failed to convince officials of the true nature of his trip, officers from the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) swooped. The officers found 5.75 kilos of cannabis with a street value of £110,000 concealed within 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 read more news Investigators immediately launched a "controlled delivery" operation on the holiday island and two suspected accomplices, both believed to be British, were also arrested. The trio appeared before Mahébourg District Court on drug trafficking charges on May 26. An investigation has been launched and they currently remain in custody. Married Adams had told family and friends back in the UK that he had taken a job doing demolition and security work on Mauritius. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun But when he failed to make contact with his wife Rebecca he was reported missing in a frantic Facebook post. A source said: 'He knew a friend in Mauritius, with a company paying £4000 a week, he said he couldn't pass it up. I'm one half of the infamous Peru 2 drug mules - this is my warning to Brit tourists & how gangs know EXACTLY who to target 'But then no one heard from him, not even his wife. Rebecca messaged his work pals to see if they'd heard from him and an appeal went out on Facebook. 'It was only then she discovered he'd been arrested when she saw a local news report online.' Advertisement It's alleged Lee didn't buy his own plane ticket and a source claims another man recruited him for the trip. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a number of British nationals detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.' The arrest comes amid a spate of similar drug mule cases - with around 13 Brits currently kept in hellhole jails abroad. Three Brits are Advertisement A Brit couple were While several young women have been arrested trying to smuggle cannabis from Thailand. 6 Brit woman Isabella Daggett was arrested just weeks after relocating to Dubai 6 Brit student Bella May Culley was arrested in Georgia after allegedly carrying drugs into the country from Thailand Advertisement 6 Brit Charlotte May Lee was arrested in Sri Lanka after allegedly trying to smuggle in drugs In the last couple of months, And former air stewardess Young mum, Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, , was detained at Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage. Advertisement Separately, two And Isabella Daggett, 21, was from after landing a new job . The Brit woman is family has said. Glamorous Sophie Bannister and Levi-April Whalley landed back on soil with their suitcases seemingly packed full of shopping. Advertisement The pair, both 30, were stopped at with more than 35kg of in their bags. Bannister, now of Cotton Lane, Whalley, of Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, was handed a 16-month sentence suspended for 18 months, with 10 days rehabilitation and 80 hours of unpaid work. Why Brit backpackers are prime targets, Thai cop reveal By Police Lieutenant Colonel Arun Musikim, Deputy Inspector of the Surat Thani province police force, said: 'Cases involving British nationals smuggling cannabis have been around for a while. 'There is a lot of cannabis grown on Thailand's islands in the south because the climate is suitable and it is legal. A lot of gangs are attracted to this. 'There are now various smuggling methods that we have seen. Some carry it themselves, some hire backpackers, and some send it via mail. 'This year, there have been many cases we have intercepted. Most involve British and Malaysian nationals. 'It's easy for British citizens to travel as they can enter Thailand and return to the UK without needing a visa. 'Most of the smugglers are people hired to carry the cannabis, similar to how tourists might smuggle tax-free goods. 'They're usually unemployed individuals from the UK. The gangs offer them flights, pocket money and hotel stays, just to come and travel and take a bag back home with them. 'These people often have poor social standing at home and are looking for ways to earn quick money. They find them through friends or on social media. 'Many will go to festivals or parties while they are here, just like they are having a normal trip abroad. 'They are told that it is easy and they will not be caught. Then the amount the organisers can sell the cannabis for in the UK is much higher than it costs in Thailand. 'Police suspect that there are multiple employers and groups receiving the drugs on the other end. The cannabis then enters the UK market. 'We are being vigilant to ensure there are no routes out of the country.'
