Brazilian jailed in Mozambique for drug trafficking

A 24-year-old Brazilian woman has been sentenced to 17 years in prison in Mozambique for drug trafficking.

Ariane Monteiro Aragão was detained on 26 June 2019 at Maputo International Airport in possession of 5.4kg (about 11lb) of cocaine. She had travelled from Brazil via Ethiopia.

On the day of her detention, Aragão said she had come to Mozambique as a tourist and knew nothing about the drugs.

But she admitted during her trial at a court in the capital, Maputo, that she was recruited in Brazil to carry the drugs to sell in Mozambique in exchange for about $2,500 (£1,940).

During her confession she also said that she was a drug user and apologised.

This did little to mitigate the length of her sentence.

Judge Rui Dauane said:

"The accused is a person who did not make things difficult. During the trial, she admitted the facts. The accused is a person who did not make things difficult. During the trial, she admitted the facts.

"But she perfectly knew about the ills caused by drugs. Furthermore, she knew that carrying and possessing the drug was illicit.

But she perfectly knew about the ills caused by drugs. Furthermore, she knew that carrying and possessing the drug was illicit.

We regard the sentence of 17 years in prison as just."

"However, we urge that during the period of incarceration, she must keep away from this kind of substances.”

Aragão is the second foreign citizen to be found guilty in Mozambique of trafficking cocaine this month.

A 66-year-old US citizen was sentenced to 18 years last week.

Last year, the UN office fighting drugs warned that Mozambique had become a corridor for high volumes of illicit substances.