Four British nationals are among a group of nine arrested in Mauritius on drugs charges.
They are accused of trying to smuggle £4 million in drugs through the country’s main airport on May 29.
Eight of the group were allegedly carrying 212kg of cannabis when they were stopped, according to local media.
Chloe Parker, 18, was allegedly carrying just under 45kg of cannabis packed into 46 bags. Alethea Demitre, 33, and Shania Wood, 25, both reportedly had 33kg of the drug in multiple suitcases.
Daniel Pearson was also arrested but he did not have any drugs on him, but is claimed to have become violent and hostile at the airport in order to cause a distraction according to local news channels.
Drug smuggling investigators from Mauritius’ police force have been actively monitoring and had some prior information of some drug smuggling, hence, they were able to catch these tourists at the airport.
Pearson was arrested and the other eight were searched ‘simultaneously’.
Local police were reportedly expecting Pearson’s alleged attempt at distraction so that others could get by without getting detected.
Alethea Demitre is suspected of also carrying a 33kg drug haul
The other suspects, including Dominican and Portuguese nationals, are Hansel Gomez, Esequiel Perez, Ildo Valera De Brito, Luis Manuel Herrera Martinez and Soraia Cristina Da Silva Cruz.
All nine have been charged with ‘drug dealing with aggravating circumstances’ and remain in custody.
Foreign officers in UK have made a statement of supporting the British nationals who have been detained in Mauritius, however, there are strict laws in Mauritius against drug trafficking and it might not be easy to get them deported.