A raid by the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) of the Metropolitan Police on the house of Sona Pravesh Panchoo, alias Vikesh, aged 28, at Deelawar lane, Red Earth on Saturday morning, March 12, resulted in the arrest of the mother of the son. Twenty grams of heroin, gold jewellery and the sum of Rs 150,250, 110 euros (Rs 5,280), 120 Mexican pesos (Rs 255) and thirteen US dollars (Rs 572) were found. As the suspect was absent, the search was conducted in the presence of his aunt who lives in the area. The police had to search the house of this aunt. A package containing 105.4 grams of heroin was found in a car. The value of the seized drugs is estimated at Rs 1 581 000. Sreematee Sooroojmanee Ramjus, also known as Asha, mother of Sona Pravesh Panchoo who reported to the Adsu office at Central Barracks soon afterwards was arrested in connection with the case.
It was shortly after 9am on Saturday 12 March that the Adsu police led by Inspector Jauforally arrived at Sona Pravesh Panchoo’s home in Terre-Rouge. This was after hours of surveillance, after they had information that the man was involved in drug trafficking. As the suspect was not at home, this exercise was conducted in the presence of his aunt. These police officers then disembarked the woman where a car that the suspect was driving was parked. Inside the car, the police officers found a package of heroin.
His aunt was arrested and taken to the Adsu office for questioning. Shortly afterwards the suspect’s mother was arrested after returning home. She said she was unaware of the drugs, money and jewellery that were found in her son’s room. Sreematee Sooroojmanee Ramjus was taken into custody at Sodnac police station. Her sister was released. This Monday morning, 14 March, Sreematee Sooroojmanee Ramjus was brought before the Pamplemousses court on a provisional charge of drug trafficking.
