Four British nationals are among nine people arrested in Mauritius in connection with an alleged attempt to smuggle cannabis worth £4 million through the country’s main airport.
The arrests took place on May 29, with local media reporting that eight of the suspects were found carrying a combined total of 212kg of cannabis.
Chloe Parker, 18, was allegedly caught with just under 45kg of cannabis packed into 46 separate bags. Alethea Demitre, 33, and Shania Wood, 25, were each said to have carried 33kg in multiple suitcases.
Another Briton, Daniel Pearson, was not found with any drugs but is accused of causing a scene to distract officials. According to local news outlet Defi Info, he “became violent and hostile at the airport in order to cause a distraction.”
Police in Mauritius say the group had been under surveillance prior to the arrest. Defi Info reported: “Authorities had gathered specific intelligence on an international drug trafficking network.”
All nine suspects were reportedly arrested at the same time, as authorities were expecting Pearson’s alleged diversion attempt.
Other suspects include Dominican and Portuguese nationals Hansel Gomez, Esequiel Perez, Ildo Valera De Brito, Luis Manuel Herrera Martinez, and Soraia Cristina Da Silva Cruz.
They have all been charged with “drug dealing with aggravating circumstances” and remain in custody.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said: “We are supporting a number of British nationals who have been detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.”
(METRO)
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