A British man has been detained in Mauritius after customs officials discovered cannabis valued at over £250,000 concealed within his luggage. Ethan John Tesner, aged 22 and from Colchester, was arrested at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on November 20, following the seizure of 24 plastic sachets containing compressed cannabis leaves.
Discovery of Concealed Drugs
Upon his arrival from Turkey, Tesner was questioned by customs officers. He stated he was visiting Mauritius for a vacation lasting less than a week, but reportedly struggled to answer some inquiries, raising suspicions. He was then taken to the Customs Examination Hall, where a scan of his luggage revealed unusual items, prompting a manual search.
During the inspection, authorities found the drugs hidden in a meticulously constructed false bottom of his suitcase. The total haul amounted to 13 kilograms of cannabis, with an estimated street value of 15,768,000 Mauritian Rupees, equivalent to approximately £251,906.03.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Tesner now faces provisional charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances and the importation of cannabis with an averment of trafficking, in violation of Mauritius's Dangerous Drug Act. He appeared before the District Court of Grand Port in Mahebourg in November and has been remanded in jail pending further legal action. The British High Commission in Mauritius has been notified of the case and is providing consular support.
Recent British Drug Smuggling Cases in Mauritius
This incident is not isolated, as several other British nationals have been arrested in Mauritius for similar offences in recent months. Just a month prior, in October, two Brits were taken into custody after a failed attempt to smuggle cannabis worth over £3 million into the island nation.
Sinead Hart, 22, and Thomas Lee Munro, 29, were arrested on October 15 upon arriving at SSR airport from Paris. Officers noted abnormalities in their behaviour and intercepted them after they collected their luggage. Approximately £3 million worth of cannabis, wrapped in nineteen packages, was discovered in their possession.
The duo claimed that someone in Britain had given them the baggage and cooperated with the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit in a controlled delivery operation at the Blue Bay hotel. This led to the arrest of two additional suspects, Roshan Ramdin and Kenny Seerungun, who were allegedly there to collect the drugs. Hart and Munro have been denied bail and are awaiting trial.
Additional High-Value Seizures
In another case, Mohammed Abubakr Hussain, 24, was arrested on October 12, 2025, with cannabis valued at £525,537.52 at the same airport. He faces similar charges under the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Earlier in the year, on May 29, a significant operation resulted in the arrest of three British women—Shania Wood, 25, Alethea Jade Demitre, 33, and Chloe Nancy Parker, 18—along with five other nationals. They were found with 212 kilograms of cannabis worth over £4 million in eight suitcases upon arrival from Dubai.
Another British man, Daniel Jonathan Pearson, was also detained in connection with this case, believed to be the ringleader supervising the drug mules, despite having no drugs on his person. All face severe charges, with potential sentences ranging from 25 to 60 years if convicted.
Ongoing Investigations and Consular Support
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has confirmed it is supporting multiple British nationals detained in Mauritius. An FCDO spokesperson stated, "We are supporting a British man who has been arrested in Mauritius and are in touch with the local authorities," regarding Tesner's case, and noted similar support for others involved in these incidents.
These cases highlight ongoing efforts by Mauritian authorities to combat drug trafficking, with the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit and Customs Anti-Narcotics Section playing key roles in intercepting smuggling attempts at SSR airport. The series of arrests underscores the risks associated with drug-related crimes in the region and the severe legal consequences faced by those involved.
