Latest news with #SirSeewoosagurRamgoolamAirport
The Citizen
5 days ago
- 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
Sunday World
28-06-2025
- Sunday World
British boy (6) arrested in Mauritius after £1.6m of cannabis found in luggage
The child was stopped alongside six other British citizens on the tropical Indian Ocean island on Sunday by customs officials The boy has now flown home with his dad A six-year-old British boy has been arrested in Mauritius after £1.6million of cannabis was found in the luggage of the group he was travelling with. The child was stopped alongside six other British citizens on the tropical Indian Ocean island on Sunday by customs officials at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport. They discovered 14 kilos of cannabis concealed in the boy's bag alongside 17 kilos in the luggage belonging to one other individual. The boy has now flown home with his dad News in 90 Seconds - June 28th Altogether, 161 kilos of the drug were found hidden throughout several other suitcases as well as 11 numbered Apple AirTags. This has led investigators to suspect the operation may have been linked to an organised crime gang responsible for smuggling drugs from Europe into Mauritius. They believe the child was used as a drugs mule, which they have condemned as 'inhumane,' according to The Sun. The six arrested adults from Cambridgeshire include Laura Kappen (28), a bar worker from Orton Goldhay, Shannon Holness (29) a caterer, from Bretton and Shona Campbell (33), a cleaner from Standground. The other two are Lily Watson, a caterer from Peterborough and window fitter Patrick Wilsdon (21) also from Peterborough. A Romanian machine operator living in Huntingdon, named as Florian Lisman (38) was also arrested. The seven arrested men and women appeared in court on Monday, in Mahébourg, and remain in custody, while the youngster has since returned to the UK with his father, who flew out to Mauritius to collect him. Carly Wilsdon described her son Patrick who had only been abroad once before as 'vulnerable'. 'It is so hard,' she told The Sun. "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.' She added: 'We've had no contact with him. He's got lots of issues, he's vulnerable. It has been reported that Patrick had been offered a 'free holiday' to Mauritius and 'wouldn't have known what he was doing because he wouldn't get involved in drugs'. 'The person who told them about this free holiday is one of his circle of friends but now he has disappeared,' she said. The incident is the latest in a number of British citizens accused of smuggling drugs who have been arrested abroad. They include former air stewardess Charlotte Lee, who was arrested in May in Sri Lanka, after £1.15million worth of cannabis was allegedly found in her luggage. Bella May Culley (18) was intercepted by police in Georgia for allegedly smuggling cannabis. A Foreign Office spokesperson said they were supporting 'several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities'.
Mint
28-06-2025
- Mint
Six-year-old arrested in Mauritius: Cannabis worth ₹18.8 crore found in luggage during airport raid
A six-year-old British boy was arrested in Mauritius after £1.6 million ( ₹ 18.8 crore) worth of cannabis was found in his luggage. The child arrived with six British adults earlier this week. Officials found 14 kilos of cannabis in the child's bag and more in others' suitcases, totalling 161 kilos. Authorities called using a child for smuggling 'inhumane', according to The Sun. Eleven Apple AirTags were found, suggesting links to a drug gang, according to MailOnline. The boy has now returned to the UK with his father. The adults remain in custody after appearing in court. The drugs were found during a joint airport raid by customs and anti-drug teams. Shocked families back home said they had no idea. All six adults are from Cambridgeshire. They are Laura Kappen (28), a bar worker; Shannon Holness (29), a caterer; Shona Campbell (33), a cleaner; Lily Watson, also a caterer; and Patrick Wilsdon (21), a window fitter. A Romanian man, Florian Lisman (38), living in Huntingdon and working as a machine operator, was also arrested. The group is suspected of being part of a wider network smuggling drugs from Europe to Mauritius. The case has shocked officials at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport. It has raised concerns about child exploitation in drug trafficking. Wilsdon was described by his mother as vulnerable and unaware. She claimed the 21-year-old had been offered a 'free holiday' by a friend who had now gone missing. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they are supporting the arrested British citizens in Mauritius. 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities,' MailOnline quoted the spokesperson as saying. The case adds to a growing list of British nationals caught abroad for drug smuggling. In May, Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested in Sri Lanka after 46kg of cannabis was reportedly found in her bags. The South London resident denies knowing about the drugs. She hasn't been charged yet. If guilty, she may face 25 years in prison.
Mint
28-06-2025
- Mint
Six-year-old arrested in Mauritius: Cannabis worth ₹18.8 crore found in luggage during airport raid
A six-year-old British boy was arrested in Mauritius after £1.6 million ( ₹ 18.8 crore) worth of cannabis was found in his luggage. The child arrived with six British adults earlier this week. Officials found 14 kilos of cannabis in the child's bag and more in others' suitcases, totalling 161 kilos. Authorities called using a child for smuggling 'inhumane', according to The Sun. Eleven Apple AirTags were found, suggesting links to a drug gang, according to MailOnline. The boy has now returned to the UK with his father. The adults remain in custody after appearing in court. The drugs were found during a joint airport raid by customs and anti-drug teams. Shocked families back home said they had no idea. All six adults are from Cambridgeshire. They are Laura Kappen (28), a bar worker; Shannon Holness (29), a caterer; Shona Campbell (33), a cleaner; Lily Watson, also a caterer; and Patrick Wilsdon (21), a window fitter. A Romanian man, Florian Lisman (38), living in Huntingdon and working as a machine operator, was also arrested. The group is suspected of being part of a wider network smuggling drugs from Europe to Mauritius. The case has shocked officials at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport. It has raised concerns about child exploitation in drug trafficking. Wilsdon was described by his mother as vulnerable and unaware. She claimed the 21-year-old had been offered a 'free holiday' by a friend who had now gone missing. A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said they are supporting the arrested British citizens in Mauritius. 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities,' MailOnline quoted the spokesperson as saying. The case adds to a growing list of British nationals caught abroad for drug smuggling. In May, Charlotte May Lee, 21, was arrested in Sri Lanka after 46kg of cannabis was reportedly found in her bags. The South London resident denies knowing about the drugs. She hasn't been charged yet. If guilty, she may face 25 years in prison. British teenager Bella Culley was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, for allegedly bringing in large amounts of drugs. Police found 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish. During a court hearing, the 18-year-old said she was pregnant.
The Sun
27-06-2025
- The Sun
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. 6 6 6 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. 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. 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. 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'. 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 '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.' 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.' 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. 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.
