A Kenyan national, Joyce Wambui Marure, a 25-year-old cake merchant, was arrested on the evening of Thursday May 9 for importing 200 grams of heroin. The heroin, with a street value of Rs 3 million, was placed in a condom and concealed in her private parts. Joyce Wambui Marure, on her first visit to Mauritius, was brought before the Mahebourg court on Monday morning May 13 on a provisional charge of importing heroin. She was subsequently returned to the police cell.
She arrived in Mauritius on a tourist visa on Air Mauritius courier Mk 852 from Johanneburg. The plan was for her to stay in Mauritius for a week, staying in a bungalow in Trou d’Eau Douce. The Kenyan was apprehended following profiling by elements of the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) at the airport after crossing the green channel. She had nothing to declare.
Her luggage was searched, but nothing incriminating was found. However, a body search revealed a condom containing heroin in her private area. Adsu also seized a cell phone and the sum of 650 US dollars from her. A controlled delivery operation was set up in this bungalow in Trou d’Eau Douce, but as it was unsuccessful, the operation was lifted, and the Kenyan courier was placed in police custody.