A British mother of two, Natashia Artug, 35, has been arrested in Mauritius for allegedly attempting to smuggle £1.6 million worth of drugs concealed inside her six-year-old son’s suitcase. Authorities discovered 24 packages of cannabis weighing approximately 14 kilograms hidden in the child’s wheelie case.
Artug, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was detained along with her partner Florian Lisman and seven other individuals accused of smuggling a total of 161 kilograms of cannabis into the island nation. The group was intercepted at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport, where customs officials seized the drugs.
The young boy was initially held by Mauritian police but has since been released and returned to the UK to be with his father.
Natashia, described as vulnerable, claims she was coerced into traveling to Mauritius by a drug trafficking gang that threatened her family’s safety. Justice Abroad, a nonprofit organization, supports her claim that she was unaware of the cannabis in the luggage. She has launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking £5,000 to help cover legal costs as she prepares to face trial.
Drug offenses in Mauritius carry harsh penalties, with convictions potentially resulting in sentences of up to 45 years in prison.
Alongside Artug, Florian Lisman, 38, originally from Romania, was arrested carrying 32 bags of drugs, an iPhone, and £260. Other Britons involved include Laura Kappen, 28, Shannon Holness, 29, Shona Campbell, 33, Lily Watson, and Patrick Wilsdon, 21. All were traveling on a British Airways flight from Gatwick.
Authorities revealed the suspects were equipped with Apple AirTags, which traffickers reportedly used to monitor the drug shipments.
Mauritian officials condemned the use of a child in the drug smuggling operation, calling it “outrageous and inhumane” and described the case as one of the most shocking they have encountered in recent years.
The drugs were uncovered during a coordinated effort by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU).
Justice Abroad highlighted that Natashia suffers from fibromyalgia and is currently a university student, expressing concern about the exploitation of a vulnerable young mother by a criminal gang. They emphasized the difficulties she faces in mounting a defense while separated from her children.
Patrick Wilsdon’s mother, Carly, shared that her son was unaware of the criminal activity. He had recently started working as a window fitter and traveled to Mauritius after being offered what he thought was a “free holiday.” Carly said it was only the second time he had traveled abroad, and he was misled by friends who have since disappeared. She fears her son could face a lengthy prison sentence despite having no prior offenses.
