Eight Brits arrested in Mauritius with 161kg of drugs as six-year-old boy used as unwitting mule
A British mother-of-two has claimed she was coerced by drug traffickers after being arrested in Mauritius with 14 kilograms of cannabis allegedly hidden in her six-year-old son’s suitcase.
Natashia Artug, 35, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was among eight people detained at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport last month after customs officers discovered 161 kilograms of cannabis worth an estimated £1.6 million in their luggage. The group had arrived on a British Airways flight from Gatwick.
The boy, who authorities say was unaware of the contents in his wheelie case, has since been released and returned to the UK where he is now staying with his father.
Child Used as ‘Drug Mule’
Mauritian authorities described the use of a child’s luggage to transport drugs as “outrageous and inhumane”, calling it “one of the most revolting cases we have encountered in recent years.
The six-year-old’s suitcase allegedly contained 24 packages of cannabis wrapped in clear cellophane weighing 14kg. He was initially held by Mauritian police but has since been returned to Britain.
Natashia Artug, who suffers from fibromyalgia and is currently attending university, claims she was forced into travelling to Mauritius by drug traffickers who threatened serious violence against her and her family.
Justice Abroad, a nonprofit organisation representing Brits detained overseas, said Artug did not know the bags contained cannabis and has launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking £5,000 to fund her legal defence.
Trafficking Gang Suspected
Each of the eight suspects was found carrying Apple AirTags, tracking devices the size of a 50p piece that authorities believe were used by international drug trafficking gangs to monitor their shipments.
Artug’s partner, Florian Lisman, 38, a Romanian national living in England, was also arrested and allegedly found carrying 32 packages of drugs, an iPhone and £260 in cash.
The other British nationals arrested included:
- Laura Kappen, 28, a bar worker from Orton Goldhay, Cambridgeshire
- Shannon Holness, 29, a caterer from Bretton, Cambridgeshire
- Shona Campbell, 33, a cleaner from Standground, Cambridgeshire
- Lily Watson, 20, a caterer from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
- Patrick Wilsdon, 21, a window fitter from Peterborough
‘Free Holiday’ Claims
Patrick Wilsdon’s mother, Carly, said her son had just started work as a window fitter and had been offered what he was told was a “free holiday” to Mauritius. It was only the second time he had been abroad.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
She added: “It is so hard. He could be looking at 30 years. He has never been in trouble and only been abroad once before.”
Serious Penalties
Drug convictions in Mauritius can result in sentences of up to 45 years in prison. Under the country’s Dangerous Drugs Act 2000, those convicted of drug trafficking face penal servitude for 45 years where it is proved they were traffickers.
The country has strict anti-drug laws, with trafficking and possession of illegal drugs carrying heavy sentences. Bail is not usually granted for drug-related crimes, and prosecutions can take a year or more to come to court.
If under police investigation, suspects are provisionally charged and not allowed to leave the country without consent from a judge. It can take up to two years for authorities to decide whether to issue formal charges.
Family Impact
Speaking outside her home, 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, who has two young children, said: “It is really difficult. She’s got two little kids and they don’t know. It’s horrible.”
Justice Abroad said of Natashia Artug: “This case raises serious concerns about the exploitation of a young mother by a criminal gang. She now faces criminal trial in Mauritius separated from her children and without the resources to mount an adequate defence and to put together the evidence of the duress and exploitation.”
Joint Operation
The drugs cache was discovered during a joint operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU) at the airport.
The arrests come as Mauritius battles a growing drug problem. According to the 2011 United Nations Drug Report, the small island nation has a prevalence of opiate consumption of 0.91%, while 3.9% of the population are regular cannabis consumers.
Drug smugglers also use Mauritius as a stopover, particularly during voyages to the east coast of Africa. The country has seen seizures of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs in recent years.
Wider Pattern
The shocking arrests form part of a spate of cases involving Britons accused of drug smuggling around the world.
Bella May Culley, 19, from Billingham, County Durham, is battling to avoid a 20-year jail sentence while pregnant after being arrested in Georgia. She denies knowingly smuggling cannabis and hashish from Thailand, claiming she was coerced by a brutal trafficking gang who allegedly burned her with an iron and threatened her family with beheading.
In Sri Lanka, Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old former air stewardess from South London, is behind bars after allegedly attempting to smuggle £1.2 million worth of synthetic kush. If convicted, she could face a 25-year prison sentence.
A British couple claiming to be holidaymakers were also recently arrested in Valencia, Spain, after allegedly arriving with 33kg of cannabis hidden in their bags.
In May, Lee Adams, 40, from Birmingham, was arrested in Mauritius on suspicion of smuggling £110,000 worth of cannabis into the country. He was intercepted with 5.75 kilos of cannabis concealed in his suitcase.
Growing Concern
The use of unwitting mules, particularly vulnerable individuals and even children, highlights the ruthless tactics employed by international drug trafficking networks.
British citizens are increasingly being promised free holidays abroad in exchange for smuggling packages across borders, leading to a string of arrests overseas with potentially devastating consequences for those involved.
The Foreign Office advises British nationals to be extremely cautious about carrying items for others when travelling abroad, warning that ignorance is no defence in drug trafficking cases.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
