The arrest of an Indian couple in possession of 6.546 grams of cannabis in a cab shortly after landing at Plaisance airport on March 4 allowed investigators of the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) at the airport to trace the alleged local contact on Wednesday March 9 in the capital. Pawankumar Bagoban, 45 years old and living in Les Cassis was apprehended as he was about to take delivery of a parcel of the drug. The value of the drug is estimated at Rs 6 546 000. These three suspects were brought before the court this Thursday morning of March 10.
This case dates back to 9:30 am on March 4, after the landing of the Emirates Airline flight EK 701 from Dubai. Sohel Hussainali Meghani, a 52-year-old real estate agent and Shehnaz Mohammed Salim Kapadia, a 46-year-old trader, both of Indian nationality landed in Mauritius for the first time. They were to stay in the island for fourteen days.
The couple was profiled by police officers from Adsu airport and the Customs Anti Narcotics Section (Cans) of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). He was allowed to leave the airport through the Green Channel. However, the couple was followed after they boarded a cab. The vehicle was intercepted just after they negotiated the traffic circle on New Airport Road, not far from the Plaine-Magnien cemetery.
A search was conducted of their luggage. Six parcels in rectangular shape and containing 6.5 kilos of cannabis were discovered. This man and woman were arrested. As, they cooperated with these police officers until the implementation of an operation of controlled delivery. This operation ended this Thursday, March 9 at 11:00 am after Pawankumar Bagoban came to take delivery of the drugs at St. George Street, Port Louis.
The two Indians were placed in a cell at the detention center in Moka. Pawankumar Bagoban was placed in a cell at the detention center of Vacoas. The two Indians were presented before the court of Mahébourg on a provisional charge of drug importation. Pawankumar Bagoban was brought before the court in Port-Louis on the same provisional charge.
An investigation has been initiated to find out who ordered the drug shipment.
