Ganeshan Irlen, a Mauritian printer, was arrested in Saudi Arabia four months ago on drug-related charges. His family is still trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding his arrest. With a lack of precise information, his wife and children are relying on his electronic exchanges to support their conviction that he was set up by organizers of a large-scale scam.
The last contact with Ganeshan was a photo sent while he was in transit in Qatar. When he stopped responding, his family initially thought he was resting after a long journey. However, as the silence prolonged, they became concerned. They tracked the location of his phone, which showed it was first near the airport, then near a location associated with a narcotics service.
Without official information, Ganeshan's family contacted several authorities and hospitals, and visited a police station before being directed to the Central CID. They found emails and WhatsApp conversations on Ganeshan's computer that suggested a scam had been ongoing for over two years. According to the family, individuals promised Ganeshan an inheritance of $10.5 million and used the name of a bank, a lawyer, and their firm to gain his trust.
Despite warnings from his family, Ganeshan continued to believe in the promise of the inheritance. The trip that led to his arrest was the third organized as part of this affair. On a previous trip, Ganeshan had refused to transport a suitcase because he doubted its contents. After the first two trips went without incident, he agreed to carry a new bag on the third trip, which was found to contain approximately three kilograms of cocaine by Saudi authorities.
The messages found on Ganeshan's phone are crucial to his family. Before arriving at the airport, Ganeshan asked his contact to confirm that the suitcase did not contain anything incriminating. He repeated the question when authorities began to search the bag. His interlocutor sent a final greeting and then stopped responding. The family and defense claim that Ganeshan was unaware of the presence of drugs.
The Saudi judiciary must determine whether Ganeshan knew about the contents of the suitcase and clarify his potential responsibility in transporting it. In Mauritius, his wife and children are still waiting for news, mainly through the Mauritian embassy. They hope that the electronic exchanges and reconstructed elements will help clarify the case.
Behind the judicial procedure, Ganeshan's family is concerned about the absence of a father and husband, and they hope for his return. The case raises questions about the circumstances of Ganeshan's arrest and the validity of the charges against him. His family continues to seek answers and clarity on the situation.
Key points
- Ganeshan Irlen was arrested in Saudi Arabia four months ago on drug-related charges.
- His family claims he was set up by organizers of a large-scale scam.
- The Saudi judiciary must determine Ganeshan's potential responsibility in transporting the suitcase containing cocaine.
