Mauritius: A six-year-old British boy was among those detained in a major drug bust at Mauritius’s main international airport, where authorities seized 161kg of cannabis with a street value of around £1.6 million. The shocking incident has raised serious concerns over the use of a child in an international smuggling attempt.

The group, which included five British women, one British man, and a Romanian national, was intercepted on Sunday shortly after arriving on a British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport. The cannabis was allegedly found during a joint customs and police operation using sniffer dogs and baggage scanners.

In a particularly disturbing detail, officials say 24 cannabis packages—amounting to 14kg—were found in the child’s luggage. His 35-year-old mother was reportedly carrying 29 packages herself, while her Romanian partner had 32. Authorities said Apple AirTags were attached to the drug consignments, indicating a technologically coordinated operation.

All six adults were taken into custody and brought before a magistrate in Mahebourg, where they were provisionally charged with drug trafficking offences. Police opposed conditional bail, and the suspects remain in detention.

Mauritian officials strongly condemned the exploitation of a child, labelling it “inhumane.” The British High Commission was immediately contacted regarding the child’s welfare. The boy was safely flown back to the UK on Wednesday, where he was received by his father. Reports conflict on whether the child is six or seven years old.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting several British nationals who are detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.”

The operation has brought renewed attention to international trafficking networks and their evolving methods, including the use of minors and tracking technology. Investigations into the full extent and coordination of the smuggling attempt are ongoing.