Mauritius Drug Bust: 6-Year-Old British Boy Found with 14 Kg Cannabis in £1.6M Smuggling Plot

 June 28, 2025 – A six-year-old British boy was briefly detained in Mauritius after customs officials discovered approximately 14 kilograms of cannabis hidden inside his luggage as part of a larger £1.6 million drug bust. The child was among eight individuals intercepted at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport on Sunday, June 22, 2025, after disembarking from a British Airways flight from London Gatwick.

Mauritian authorities were acting on intelligence as part of a joint anti-trafficking operation involving police and sniffer dogs. They reportedly discovered a total of 161 kilograms (355 pounds) of cannabis concealed across the group's suitcases, with an estimated street value of £1.6 million (approximately ₹18.8 crore).

Officials expressed outrage and condemned the "outrageous and inhumane" use of a minor in an international smuggling attempt. Reports indicate that 24 packages of drugs were found specifically in the child's suitcase, wrapped in clear cellophane. His 35-year-old mother was said to be carrying 29 packages, while her Romanian partner allegedly held another 32.

The group consisted of seven British nationals, including the boy and his mother, and one Romanian national residing in Britain. Authorities also found Apple AirTags with the drug packages, suggesting a well-coordinated and technologically sophisticated smuggling operation. Investigators are reportedly treating the group as part of an organized crime network responsible for smuggling narcotics from Europe into Mauritius.

Concerns were immediately raised about the child's welfare. The British High Commission was contacted, and arrangements were swiftly made for the boy's safe return to the UK. He was flown back on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, and is now reportedly staying with his father.

All six adult suspects (five British women, one British man, and the Romanian national) were taken into custody and later provisionally charged with drug trafficking offenses after appearing before a magistrate in Mahebourg. They remain in pre-trial detention, as police reportedly opposed any conditional release. Authorities also conducted targeted raids on hotels accommodating British nationals based on intelligence of potential further involvement, but no additional arrests were made.

This case has drawn significant attention due to the shocking involvement of a young child and has been described by Mauritian authorities as "one of the most revolting cases we have encountered in recent years."