93M Rs worth of heroin seized in an airport trash bin: Moukesh Sarmah Ramoo granted bail

Moukesh Sarmah Ramoo was arrested on July 18, 2025, after heroin valued at Rs 93 million was discovered in a trash bin of an airplane at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaisance. He was granted bail on November 18, 2025, by the Bail and Remand Court.

Magistrate Vishakha Bhumija Soborun imposed several strict conditions on the Rose-Belle resident, who works for Ground Handling Services. He was required to provide two sureties via cheque: one for Rs 500,000 and another for Rs 200,000, along with a debt commitment of Rs 2 million.

He must report to the nearest police station twice daily during the hours of 6 AM to 10 AM and 3 PM to 6 PM, notifying police of all his movements. He is also required to provide his mobile phone number to be reachable at any time. The Bail and Remand Court also placed him under a curfew from 9 PM to 5 AM. His passport must be surrendered to the authorities, and he is strictly prohibited from leaving the country.

This decision followed a request from his lawyer, Me Taij Dabycharun, for bail. The prosecution objected, citing flight risk and the possibility of reoffending.

Drug Trafficking

The accused faces a provisional charge of "drug dealing with aggravating circumstances" in the Mahébourg court.

According to Sergeant Tapsee from the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) of Rose-Belle, customs and Adsu officials discovered a package containing drugs in the bathroom of an airplane arriving from Johannesburg on July 18, 2025. On the same day, the accused was arrested at his workplace in Plaisance.

During cross-examination, the sergeant confirmed that the accused has a clean criminal record, with only three statements recorded so far. He also stated that "no incriminating evidence" was found in the accused's phone records, nor any direct link to the seized drugs.

In her ruling, the magistrate noted that Moukesh Sarmah Ramoo, who is employed by Ground Handling Services at the airport and responsible for overseeing cleaning, has denied the charges against him. She also deemed that the imposition of strict conditions was sufficient to mitigate any risk. Consequently, she rejected the prosecution's objections and granted the accused conditional release with stringent measures in place.