Rs16.6 Million Cocaine Smuggling Plot Foiled: Nigerian Arrested at Mauritius Airport

A significant drug trafficking operation was thwarted at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport on August 8th, when authorities intercepted a Nigerian man attempting to smuggle a large quantity of cocaine into Mauritius by concealing it within his body. The operation uncovered 31 cocaine boulettes, weighing a total of 1.111 kilograms, with an estimated street value of Rs 16.6 million.

The suspect, Ezekiel Kenechi Onwuegbusi, aged 37 and managing director of a Nigerian-based company, was onboard Kenya Airways flight KQ 274 from Nigeria.

Upon arrival, he was detained by officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (Cans) and the Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (Adsu).

Despite no initial suspicion from his luggage, suspicion arose due to his behaviour, prompting a medical radiograph that revealed multiple boulettes inside his intestines.

Faced with the evidence, Onwuegbusi admitted to having ingested the drugs to transport them into the country.

Urgently, he was taken to a designated hospital toilet, where he expelled 31 boulettes.

Further medical procedures later recovered a total of 68 cocaine boulettes, confirming the authorities’ suspicions.

The intercepted drugs, valued at approximately Rs 16.6 million on the illicit market, represent a substantial blow to traffickers attempting to introduce narcotics into Mauritius.

While Onwuegbusi remains under police custody at the hospital, authorities swiftly organised a controlled delivery operation at a nearby hotel, where the intended recipient was expected to retrieve the consignment.

Under the supervision of Police Commissioner Ravin Soorojebally, Superintendent Ghoora, and Assistant Superintendent Goinden, plainclothes officers monitored the delivery.

The target, identified as Festus Chukwuka Uzuakpundu of Bassin, Quatre Bornes, arrived at the hotel to collect the drugs.

He was promptly arrested by the anti-drug team for his involvement in the trafficking conspiracy and is now in police custody facing charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances related to the importation and trafficking of cocaine.

The operation underscores the ongoing efforts by Mauritian authorities to combat drug trafficking and prevent large-scale narcotics from entering the island nation.

Source: Defi Media