Arrest in Saudi Arabia for drugs - Ganeshan Irlen: contact broken three days before his arrest

Three days before his arrest in Saudi Arabia in a drug case, Ganeshan Irlen had stopped all communication with his loved ones, plunging his family into deep concern.

Ganeshan Irlen's silence for three days was the first sign of concern for those close to him. The 45-year-old Mauritian, arrested on June 19 at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with a large quantity of suspected drugs in his luggage, had not given any sign of life to his family since June 16.

Described by those close to him as a “frequent traveler”, this resident of Pointe-aux-Sables nevertheless had the habit of staying in contact with his wife during each of his trips. This time, communications abruptly stopped three days before his arrest, leaving his family without news until they learned of his arrest in connection with a drug case.

On June 20, his wife, also aged 45, reported his disappearance to the Mauritian police. She explained that Ganeshan Irlen left Mauritius on Sunday June 14 aboard flight KQ 271 to Kenya. His itinerary then took him to Uganda, before he continued his journey to Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Ganeshan Irlen reportedly arrived in Saudi Arabia on a tourist visa valid for 90 days. His return to Mauritius was scheduled for Sunday June 21. However, from June 16, five days before the scheduled date of his return, his relatives were no longer able to contact him.

To the police, his wife explained that her husband had remained in contact with her by telephone throughout his trip until the sudden interruption. She also indicated that Ganeshan Irlen regularly traveled abroad, notably to Nairobi. He visited there from April 20 to 30, 2025, and then again from April 16 to 24, 2026. In June last year, he also traveled to England. At this stage, little information has filtered out on the exact reasons for these trips made by this director of a digital printing company located in La Tour Koenig.

His wife also claims that the discussions she had with him during his trip focused mainly on his well-being. However, the latest messages received seemed unusual to him. According to her, the responses were particularly brief and cold. The last message she claims to have received was limited to a simple: “OK”. No further communication followed

According to his wife's statements, Ganeshan Irlen's trip was motivated by professional matters. She claims that he was to meet a lawyer as part of his activities during his stay in Saudi Arabia. Although she has his telephone number, she says she has never been able to contact him despite several attempts.

According to the information obtained, Ganesha