A British mother arrested in Mauritius with her six-year-old son has claimed she was coerced into carrying a suitcase containing cannabis. Natashia Artug, 35, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, was one of eight people detained after arriving on a flight from London Gatwick.
Authorities reportedly found 161kg of cannabis, valued at approximately £1.6 million, among the group's luggage. Artug's son's bag allegedly contained 24 packs of the drug, weighing around 14kg. Her partner, Florian Lisman, 38, a Romanian national, was also arrested, reportedly carrying 32 packages, an iPhone and £260.
Justice Abroad, a London-based non-profit representing Artug, stated she was 'vulnerable' and had been forced to travel by individuals who threatened her and her family. The organisation claims she was unaware of the drugs in her luggage and was coerced under threats of serious violence.
Artug, a single mother of two who suffers from fibromyalgia, is currently in custody facing drug trafficking charges. Her son has since returned to the UK to stay with his father. Justice Abroad has launched a fundraising campaign to support her legal defence.
The other detainees include Patrick Lee Wilsdon, 22, Lily Watson, 20, Shannon Ellen Josie Holness, 29, Laura Amy Kappen, 28, and Shona Campbell, 32. All were on the same British Airways flight and have been charged with drug trafficking. The Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support.
