A startling drug smuggling case at Mauritius’ Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport has resulted in the detention of eight individuals—including a six-year-old British boy—after customs officials uncovered over 160 kilograms (355 pounds) of cannabis hidden inside multiple suitcases.
Shockingly, the child’s own baggage contained 14 kilograms (30 pounds) of the drug, raising alarm over the exploitation of minors in international narcotics trafficking. The arrests, part of a coordinated crackdown targeting organized crime groups smuggling drugs from Europe to Mauritius, have provoked widespread outrage and disbelief both locally and in the UK.
According to reports, customs officers intercepted a group of travelers at Mauritius’ main international airport in Plaine Magnien. Among the eight arrested were six British adults and a young boy, whose luggage concealed a staggering 161 kilograms (355 pounds) of cannabis across various bags.
The child’s suitcase alone held 14 kilograms (30 pounds), while another passenger’s luggage contained 17 kilograms (37 pounds). Investigators also found eleven numbered Apple AirTags among the confiscated bags, pointing to a sophisticated operation involving tracking devices, believed to be linked to a European drug trafficking syndicate moving narcotics into Mauritius.
The seizure was carried out through a joint effort between the airport’s Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU) and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS), underscoring the complexity and scale of the smuggling ring.
The Sun newspaper described the use of a six-year-old as a drug courier as “inhumane.” On June 25, the boy was reunited with his father, who flew to Mauritius to collect him; they have since returned safely to the UK.
The adults apprehended include six British nationals from Cambridgeshire: Laura Kappen (28), a barman from Orton Goldhay; Shannon Holness (29), a caterer from Bretton;
Shona Campbell (33), a cleaner from Standground; Lily Watson, a caterer from Peterborough; Patrick Wilsdon (21), a window fitter from Peterborough; and Florian Lisman (38), a Romanian machine operator living in Huntingdon.
These individuals appeared before the Mahébourg court on June 23, just one day after their arrival from London Gatwick. They remain in custody as investigations unfold.
Back in Britain, family members expressed shock at the arrests. Carly Wilsdon, mother of suspect Patrick Wilsdon, told The Sun that her son was “vulnerable” and had limited travel experience. She suggested that he might have been deceived by the promise of a “free holiday” to Mauritius.
“He wouldn’t have known what he was doing because he wouldn’t get involved in drugs,” she said. “The person who offered this free holiday is among his circle of friends but has now disappeared.”
Experts warn that some British nationals have been lured into becoming drug mules through enticing offers of free vacations abroad, only to unknowingly carry illegal drugs or mysterious packages across borders.
This incident is part of a disturbing pattern involving British citizens caught abroad in similar narcotics cases.
In May, for example, 21-year-old former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee was arrested in Sri Lanka after cannabis worth £1.15 million was allegedly discovered in her luggage.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Bella May Culley faces up to 20 years in prison after being detained in Georgia on suspicion of cannabis smuggling, following her disappearance in Thailand.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office confirmed: “We are supporting several British nationals detained in Mauritius and remain in close contact with local authorities.”
This harrowing case sheds light on the increasing vulnerability of individuals—especially minors—being exploited by ruthless drug trafficking networks through deceptive tactics like promises of free holidays.
The involvement of such a young child highlights the brutal lengths criminal organizations are willing to go.
With British nationals repeatedly ensnared in similar schemes overseas, experts continue to caution the public about these dangerous traps.
Authorities and families alike face the ongoing challenge of addressing the fallout as investigations proceed and support services work to assist those affected.