Elements of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (Cans) of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) arrested Alphonso Charles Biddulph, a 65-year-old South African national who arrived at Plaisance airport on the evening of Saturday November 4 on Air Mauritius flight MK 852 from Johannesburg. After his luggage was scanned, a partially wooden cardboard box in the shape of a book was found among his personal effects. It was examined and a black parcel was discovered. This contained a large quantity of a granulated substance. An initial test concluded that it was heroin. The drug weighed 1.84 kilos, with a street value of Rs 27,600,000. The Scarlet sniffer dog reacted positively to the drug. The South African was arrested and handed over to the airport’s Anti-Drug Smuggling Unit (Adsu) for investigation.
Alphonso Biddulph had already crossed the green channel in the arrivals hall at Plaisance airport when he was stopped by the Cans men. Suspected of carrying drugs, he was subjected to a body search and his luggage was also searched. The drugs were then discovered concealed in this cardboard and wooden box.
The arrested suspect was brought before the Mahebourg court on Wednesday November 8, 2023. This after the controlled delivery that had been put in place in a Quatre Bornes hotel where he was due to stay was lifted late in the afternoon of Tuesday November 7. No local contact had turned up to take delivery of the drug. Alphonso Biddulph is facing a provisional charge of importing drugs under aggravating circumstances.
