Since taking office, the Acting Commissioner of Police has reviewed the strategies of the Mauritius Police Force to ensure an enhanced and improved policing of our Maritime Zone. A multi-pronged approach has been set up involving all stakeholders in the Maritime Security Sector and in line with this strategy, a Maritime National Coast Guard Pillar has been created at the level of Police Headquarters to coordinate all operations and policies related to Maritime Security and Safety.
The Ag. Commissioner of Police has mentioned in a recent press interaction that the seas are under close surveillance by the to spot any suspicious or illegal activities in the EEZ of Mauritius. The successful seizure of more than 56 kilos of cannabis, worth about Rs 60 M from a speedboat at Pointe-aux-Canonniers, by the National Coast Guard, in December last year and now, the apprehension of an illegal/ stateless boat in the EEZ of Mauritius are vivid examples that the strategies put in place are yielding positive results.
As part of the focused maritime strategy against illegal activities in our maritime zones, the National Coast Guard has increased the tempo of its operations concerning anti-drugs, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing and EEZ Surveillance in the vast EEZ of Mauritius. Accordingly, as part of the regular deployments of NCG ships for EEZ Surveillance missions, CGS Barracuda has been deployed for EEZ Surveillance from 07 -12 Jan 22.
At about 1500 hrs on 10 Jan 21, CGS Barracuda detected a boat within the Exclusive Economic Zone, about 160 NM East of Agalega and 590 NM North of Port Louis. There were no visible external marking on the boat and no country flag was displayed. Upon sighting the ship, the boat altered course away from the ship eastwards and increased speed in an attempt to flee. Repeated calls on V/UHF radio, were not responded to by the boat. Pursuant to powers vested in NCG vide the Maritime Zones Act 2005 and NCG Act 1988, the CGS Barracuda managed to cause the boat to stop for a routine visit and boarding.
The NCG boarding team interrogated the crew which comprised of a total of nine crew members, including one probable minor (15 yrs). The crew members could not produce any document for the boat and they initially stated that they are from Baloch, Pakistan; later they changed their statement, claiming to belong from Chabahar, Iran. The real identity of the crew members could not be ascertained on the spot. The boat crew stated that they had been at sea for past 20 days and that they have ventured in the area to search for a missing boat. However, when questioned, the crew members could not give any details of the missing boat or the crew who were on board the missing.
The boarding team carried out a search on board the boat and found advanced communication and navigation equipment onboard which included; an Automatic Identification System (which was not transmitting), a GPS, V/UHF radio, Portable satellite communication sets and mobile phones. Large amount of fishing gear was onboard. There was, however, no catch onboard. The boat appeared to be freshly painted inside with the paint still wet, however during the preliminary search, no contrabands were found. However, the boarding team suspected a high likelihood of contraband having been stored onboard recently.
The presence of a boat without nationality and any valid license/ permit, as well as the intentions/purpose of the presence of the boat and its crew in the maritime zones of Mauritius raised reasonable suspicion of its involvement in illicit activities. Consequently, the boat has been escorted by CGS Barracuda to Port Louis harbour for thorough searches and further investigation by the Mauritius Police Force in collaboration with other concerned authorities.
The Ag Commissioner of Police encourages the general public to share credible information on any illegal activity at sea on Hotline 177, especially dedicated to the National Coast Guard, which is toll-free and confidential.
