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Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Brit mum arrested in Mauritius with son, 6, and suitcase full of cannabis
British mum Nastashia Artug, 35, and her Romanian partner were arrested in Mauritius after an estimated £1.6 million worth of cannabis was reportedly found inside luggage A British mum who was arrested in a drugs bust in Mauritius with her six-year-old son claimed she was "coerced" into carrying a suitcase filled with cannabis. Her Romanian partner was also said to have drugs in his luggage. Natashia Artug, 35, was one of eight people apprehended who were accused of carrying an estimated 161kg of cannabis worth an estimated £1.6million, in their bags. Her son's luggage reportedly had 24 packs of the drugs wrapped in cellophane and weighed some 14kg. Natashia, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was said to be "vulnerable" and had been coerced into travelling to the island nation by people who threatened her and her family, London-based non-profit Justice Abroad said. The group said the mum also did not know the bags had cannabis inside. Her partner Florian Lisman, 38, originally from Romania, was arrested and said to be carrying 32 drug packages, an iPhone and £260. Others who were detained included Patrick Lee Wilsdon, 22, Lily Watson, 20, Shannon Ellen Josie Holness 29, Laura Amy Kappen 28, and Shona Campbell, 32. Each of them carried between 30 and 32 packages, Mauritian newspaper Le Mauricien reported. All of them had been on the same British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport last month. They have all been charged with drug trafficking and remain in custody. "Justice Abroad is representing Natashia Artug, a British mother who is currently detained in Mauritius, facing serious drug charges after being arrested at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport with her six-year-old son on arrival after having been forced to carry a suitcase containing cannabis without her knowledge," the non profit said. "Natashia is a single mother of two, who suffers from fibromyalgia [a condition characterised by cognitive difficulties] but who attends university to give her children a better future. She was coerced into travelling to Mauritius with her young son, and to carry the luggage which she did not know contained cannabis, by individuals involved in the drugs trade who took advantage of her vulnerability and made threats to cause serious violence to her and her family if she refused to obey their orders. "The luggage they were forced to carry was fitted with Apple tacking devices used by international drug trafficking gangs to help smugglers keep abs on their shipments." The boy, who was unaware of what was in his bag, has reportedly already flown back to the UK and is staying with his dad. Justice Abroad has since launched a Crowd Justice fundraising campaign in a bid to raise £5,000 toward her legal defence. A Foreign Office spokesperson told MailOnline: "We are supporting a British national detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.
Metro
6 days ago
- Metro
British mum arrested in Mauritius for 'smuggling drugs' in young son's luggage
A British mum-of-two has been arrested in Mauritius after trying to smuggle drugs inside her six-year-old son's suitcase. Natashia Artug, 35, was arrested alongside seven others accused of carrying cannabis worth £1.6 million in their luggage on a British Airways flight from Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport last month. The child's suitcase reportedly had 24 packages of drugs weighing 14kg, which Mauritian authorities described as 'outrageous and inhumane'. They added: 'This is one of the most revolting cases we have encountered in recent years.' Natshia's partner Florian Lisman, 38, was also arrested and said to be carrying 32 drug packages according to local newspaper Le Mauricien. Others arrested include Patrick Lee Wilsdon, 22, Lily Watson, 20, Shannon Ellen Josie Holness 29, Laura Amy Kappen 28, and Shona Campbell, 32, who each had between 30 to 31 packages. They have all been charged with drug trafficking. The boy has already been flown back to the UK and is staying with his dad. But Natashia, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, is 'vulnerable' and was coerced into smuggling the drugs by people who threatened her and her family, Justice Abroad has said. They have launched a fundraiser to cover Natashia's legal costs and bring her back to the UK. They wrote: 'Natashia is a single mother of two, who suffers from Fibromyalgia but who attends university and is working to give her children a better future. 'She was coerced into travelling to Mauritius with her young son, and to carry the luggage which she did not know contained cannabis, by individuals involved in the drugs trade who took advantage of her vulnerability and made threats to cause serious violence to her and her family if she refused to obey their orders. More Trending 'This case raises serious concerns about the exploitation of a young mother by a criminal gang. 'She now faces criminal trial in Mauritius separated from her children and without the resources to mount an adequate defence and to put together the evidence of the duress and exploitation which resulted in her being involved in.' The Foreign Office said: 'We are supporting a British national detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Major evacuation amid fears of explosives found at a Bristol home MORE: Woman, 86, arrested after 'human remains buried in 1970s' reported in Leicester MORE: Girl, 9, shot in head 'by motorbike hitman during botched gangland murder'
