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Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit boy, 6, 'detained on holiday island over £1.6m drug smuggling plot'
The six-year-old boy was reportedly detained along with his mum and five other British nationals at an airport in Mauritius over an alleged drug smuggling plot A six-year-old boy was among six British nationals detained abroad in a huge £1.6million drug-smuggling bust, according to reports. The group were stopped last Sunday at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), the main international airport in Mauritius, where customs officials allegedly discovered 161kg of cannabis hidden inside their suitcases. The total haul reportedly included 24 packages stashed in the youngster's bag, weighing 14kg. The boy's 35-year-old mum was meanwhile said to be carrying 29 packages, and her Romanian partner another 32 packages. Local officials are said to have estimated the total amount would be equivalent to £1.6million on the local drugs market. Five British women and one man, one Romanian, and a child were all reportedly detained at the scene, with the adults later appearing at a court in Mahebourg to be provisionally charged with drug offences. The adults remain in detention after police requested for them not to be given conditional release, according to Mauritian newspaper Defi Media. Authorities contacted the British High Commission regarding the child's welfare after taking in him and his mother. Reports back in the UK said the boy was flown home on Wednesday, with his dad coming to the airport to collect him. His age has been reported as either six or seven years old. The Mirror has approached the Foreign Office for comment. A spokesperson told The Sun: "We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities." Customs officers and police are said to have kept a keen eye on the group of passengers from the moment they disembarked from British Airways flight BA 2065 on Sunday, which had arrived from London Gatwick Airport. Multiple police bloodhounds had been stationed in the airport that day as part of an anti-trafficking operation. After being stopped, all of the group's checked baggage, including the child's, was examined with an X-ray scanner, allegedly revealing the presence of the drugs. Authorities in Mauritius described the use of a child for drug trafficking as "inhumane". They added that Apple AirTags were said to have been found with the parcels of drugs, suggesting an organised smuggling operation.
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Brit boy, 6, arrested in £1.6m smuggling plot after 14kgs of drugs found stuffed in his case when he landed in Mauritius
A SIX-year-old British boy was arrested in Mauritius suspected of smuggling part of a £1.6million dope haul stuffed inside his wheelie case. The lad was picked up by customs officials along with his mum and five other Brits as they arrived on the tropical island on Sunday. Advertisement 6 The boy has since gone home to his family after the ordeal 6 Shannon Holness at court after allegedly being involved in the plot Credit: 6 Shona Campbell arrives at court Credit: 6 Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean Credit: Alamy Suspicious customs officials swooped at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport and found a whopping 161 kilos of The boy's mum was also arrested and had 17 kilos hidden in her own bags. The other Brits arrested included Laura Kappen, 28, a bar worker from Orton Goldhay, Cambs, Shannon Holness, 29, a caterer, from Bretton, Cambs, Shona Campbell, 33, a cleaner from Standground, Cambs, Lily Watson, a caterer from Peterborough, Cambs, and window fitter Patrick Wilsdon, 21, also from Peterborough. Romanian national, Florian Lisman, 38, a machine operator living in Huntingdon, was also arrested. Advertisement Read more on world news Authorities on Mauritius branded the On Wednesday the boy, who had no clue of the drugs in his bag, was flown back to the UK with his dad who came to collect him. Eleven numbered Apple AirTags found with the The drugs cache was found during a joint operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU) at the airport. Advertisement Most read in The Sun The group had flown into Mauritius on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick last Sunday. The accused appeared in court in Mahébourg on June 23 and seven remain in custody. Drugs kingpins guilty of plotting murder and running drugs empire on EncroChat A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.' Accused Patrick's shocked mother Carly Wilsdon said her son had just started work as a window fitter in Peterborough and had gone to Mauritius after being offered a 'free holiday'. Advertisement It was only the second time he had been abroad in his life. She said: '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. 6 Shannon Holness, a caterer, was arrested at the airport Credit: Facebook 6 Mauritius is known as a holiday island with beautiful beaches Credit: Alamy Advertisement '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. 'It is so hard. He could be looking at 30 years. He has never been in trouble and only been abroad once before. 'I missed a call from him on the day they arrived. I thought it was to show me the apartment. I can't believe what's happened.' Advertisement She added: 'We've had no contact with him. He's got lots of issues, he's vulnerable. 'He doesn't know any of the group. He just went there with his girlfriend Lily Watson.' Speaking outside her home on the outskirts of Peterborough, 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 said: 'It is really difficult. She's got two little kids and they don't know. It's horrible.' Advertisement Spate of Brit drug arrests worldwide A SLEW of drug mule cases invovling Brits have emerged in the last few weeks In April-May, The 18-year-old was sent to the brutal Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in the town of Rustavi - She had originally jetted to the Philippines to meet an old friend, but reportedly A sentence ranging from 20 years to life could be a possibility for teen Bella from County Durham, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, former air stewardess Her two suitcases were said to have been stuffed with 46kg of a synthetic cannabis strain known as kush — which is 25 times more potent than opioid fentanyl. If found guilty, South Londoner Charlotte could face a 25-year sentence. Meanwhile, a young mum is being detained in Germany for allegedly smuggling cannabis in her bags on a flight from Thailand - in yet another shocking case. Glamorous Cameron Bradford, 21, from Knebworth, Herts, was detained at Munich Airport on April 21 as she tried to collect her luggage. It comes as a Brit couple claiming to be tourists from Thailand have been busted with more than 33kg of cannabis in their suitcases at a Spanish airport. The pair were picked out by suspicious cops at Valencia Airport after displaying a 'nervous and evasive attitude' and are now behind bars on drug trafficking charges. Experts told The Sun how wannabe Brit Insta stars are being lured by cruel gangs into carting drugs across the world. The drugs bust comes amid a spate of British drug mule arrests in recent months. Brit Lee Adams, who went missing on Mauritius, was arrested on May 24 on suspicion of smuggling £110,000 worth of cannabis into the East African nation. Lee, 40, from Yardley, Birmingham, was intercepted as he arrived at the airport and customs officers found 5.75 kilos of cannabis concealed in his suitcase. According to local news reports Adams, who was confronted with the evidence during an interrogation, admitted his role and was arrested on the spot. Advertisement Investigators immediately launched a "controlled delivery" operation on the holiday island and two suspected accomplices, both believed to be British, were also arrested. An investigation has been launched and the trio remain in custody.
Ottawa Citizen
20-06-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Seven men charged over largest jewellery heist in U.S. history
Article content Police in California have made several arrests and laid charges in what they are calling the largest jewellery heist in U.S. history. The 2022 crime is said to have resulted in the theft of more than US$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches. Article content According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on the evening of July 10, 2022, two men scouted a Brinks truck leaving an international jewellery show in San Mateo, Calif., with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewellery. Overnight, six men and other conspirators followed the truck approximately 480 kilometres from the show to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec, north of Los Angeles. Article content Article content Article content At the second stop, defendants stole 24 bags from the truck containing about US$100 million in jewellery. In the following days, they all deactivated their cellphone numbers that they had been using during the heist. Article content Article content Several of the men are also alleged to have stolen US$240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, Calif., four months earlier. Those same defendants then allegedly robbed a box truck driver of US$57,377 worth of Apple AirTags, with one of the robbers brandishing a knife to threaten the driver. Article content Next, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana, Calif., rest stop using a crowbar to break in. Shortly after, they successfully stole approximately US$14,000 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in the same city. Article content Article content The accusations in the 14-page indictment have not yet been proven in court. The trial is set to start on Aug. 1. If convicted, five of the men would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge, plus 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge. Article content Article content The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fontana Police Department, and the Ontario Police Department are continuing their investigation. Article content Facing charges are seven men from California: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena, Calif; Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. 'Ricardo Noel Moya,' 'Ricardo Barbosa,' and 'Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,' 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. 'Walter Loza,' 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles. Article content
Vancouver Sun
20-06-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Seven men charged over largest jewellery heist in U.S. history
Police in California have made several arrests and laid charges in what they are calling the largest jewellery heist in U.S. history. The 2022 crime is said to have resulted in the theft of more than US$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on the evening of July 10, 2022, two men scouted a Brinks truck leaving an international jewellery show in San Mateo, Calif., with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewellery. Overnight, six men and other conspirators followed the truck approximately 480 kilometres from the show to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec, north of Los Angeles. At the second stop, defendants stole 24 bags from the truck containing about US$100 million in jewellery. In the following days, they all deactivated their cellphone numbers that they had been using during the heist. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Several of the men are also alleged to have stolen US$240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, Calif., four months earlier. Those same defendants then allegedly robbed a box truck driver of US$57,377 worth of Apple AirTags, with one of the robbers brandishing a knife to threaten the driver. Next, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana, Calif., rest stop using a crowbar to break in. Shortly after, they successfully stole approximately US$14,000 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in the same city. The accusations in the 14-page indictment have not yet been proven in court. The trial is set to start on Aug. 1. If convicted, five of the men would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge, plus 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge. The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fontana Police Department, and the Ontario Police Department are continuing their investigation. Facing charges are seven men from California: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena, Calif; Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. 'Ricardo Noel Moya,' 'Ricardo Barbosa,' and 'Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,' 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. 'Walter Loza,' 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles. Assistant United States Attorneys Jena A. MacCabe and Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting the case. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our newsletters here .
Calgary Herald
20-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Seven men charged over largest jewellery heist in U.S. history
Article content Police in California have made several arrests and laid charges in what they are calling the largest jewellery heist in U.S. history. The 2022 crime is said to have resulted in the theft of more than US$100 million worth of gold, diamonds, rubies, emeralds and luxury watches. Article content According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, on the evening of July 10, 2022, two men scouted a Brinks truck leaving an international jewellery show in San Mateo, Calif., with 73 bags containing millions of dollars of jewellery. Overnight, six men and other conspirators followed the truck approximately 480 kilometres from the show to rest stops in Buttonwillow and Lebec, north of Los Angeles. Article content Article content Article content At the second stop, defendants stole 24 bags from the truck containing about US$100 million in jewellery. In the following days, they all deactivated their cellphone numbers that they had been using during the heist. Article content Article content Several of the men are also alleged to have stolen US$240,573 worth of Samsung electronics from an interstate cargo shipment in Ontario, Calif., four months earlier. Those same defendants then allegedly robbed a box truck driver of US$57,377 worth of Apple AirTags, with one of the robbers brandishing a knife to threaten the driver. Article content Next, on May 25, 2022, the defendants allegedly attempted to steal from one truck at a Fontana, Calif., rest stop using a crowbar to break in. Shortly after, they successfully stole approximately US$14,000 worth of Samsung electronics from another interstate shipment in the same city. Article content Article content The accusations in the 14-page indictment have not yet been proven in court. The trial is set to start on Aug. 1. If convicted, five of the men would face statutory maximum sentences of 20 years in federal prison for each robbery charge, and all would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the theft conspiracy charge, plus 10 years in federal prison for each theft charge. Article content Article content The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Fontana Police Department, and the Ontario Police Department are continuing their investigation. Article content Facing charges are seven men from California: Carlos Victor Mestanza Cercado, 31, of Pasadena, Calif; Jazael Padilla Resto, a.k.a. 'Ricardo Noel Moya,' 'Ricardo Barbosa,' and 'Alberto Javier Loza Chamorro,' 36, of Boyle Heights and currently an inmate in Arizona state prison; Pablo Raul Lugo Larroig, a.k.a. 'Walter Loza,' 41, of Rialto; Victor Hugo Valencia Solorzano, 60, of Los Angeles; Jorge Enrique Alban, 33, of Los Angeles; Jeson Nelon Presilla Flores, 42, of Upland; and Eduardo Macias Ibarra, 36, of Los Angeles. Article content
