Heroine arrest prompts call for respect of international laws |20 July 2004

The woman was apparently caught with some 300 grammes of heroin, valued at U.S. $100,000, on arrival from Seychelles on an Air Mauritius flight.

A 3-year-old girl that was in the company of the woman – allegedly the daughter – is under protection and awaits repatriation to Seychelles.

Foreign affairs principal secretary Sylvestre Radegonde said the arrests was yet another unfortunate incident that not only hurts families – in this case a small child – but tarnishes the reputation of Seychelles and Seychellois.

Mr Radegonde reiterated his ministry’s call for Seychellois travelling abroad to respect the laws of the countries they visit and that they should suffer the full consequences if they do not.

According to the police the woman is the second Seychellois to be arrested in Mauritius on drug charges. Four similar arrests involving Seychellois have also been made in other foreign countries this year.