UK Child Used in Mauritius Drug Smuggling Plot

A six-year-old British boy was detained in Mauritius after customs officials found 14 kg of cannabis in his suitcase, part of a 161 kg haul valued at about £1.6 million, upon arrival from London Gatwick. The boy was traveling with his mother, five other British nationals, and a Romanian man; all adults were arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Mauritian authorities condemned the use of a child in the operation, calling it 'inhumane' and one of the most shocking cases in recent years. The group is believed to have used Apple AirTags to track the drug-filled luggage, indicating ties to organized crime. Following the arrests, authorities raided hotels housing British nationals but found no further suspects. The boy, reportedly unaware of the drugs, was returned to the UK to his father's custody, while the UK Foreign Office is supporting the detained Britons and liaising with Mauritian officials.