PIO couple arrested for modern slavery on landing at Heathrow from Mumbai

TOI Correspondent from London: Two Indian-origin passengers, a man and a woman, were arrested at Heathrow airport on suspicion of modern-day slavery after their flight landed from Mumbai on Tuesday night.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told TOI: “Met officers arrested two people at London Heathrow Airport on March 17th. Officers arrested a 30-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman on suspicion of modern slavery, fraud by false representation and blackmail. The arrests follow allegations of modern-day slavery offences against one victim. They have both been released on bail while enquiries continue.”

The flight, IndiGo 6E1, landed at Heathrow Terminal 3 at 7.50 pm local time.

The arrest took place in full view of other passengers as police boarded the aircraft to arrest the man and woman and passengers were not allowed to disembark.

Sources told TOI that IndiGo cooperated with law enforcement.

The police have not yet confirmed the nationality of the suspects.

A 61-year old Indian passenger on the flight, who had come to see her children in the UK, told TOI: “After the flight landed, once we reached the gate, we all got up to take up our hand luggage from the racks, then four police officers, male and female, came onto the aircraft and told us to remain seated and put the luggage back. They moved beyond me to where a couple were sat at the back of the plane in economy. We asked the air hostesses if they knew what was happening and they all looked perplexed. The couple the police arrested were of Indian origin. The woman was very attractive and the man with her was well dressed. They didn’t react when they got arrested and were escorted off the plane without handcuffs. I later saw them being questioned in a room near immigration.”