On parole for a case of drug trafficking, even growing cannabis plants in 2022, fire chief Roopnarain Lootooa, also known as Kishan aged 53 who has since been suspended from duty, has been arrested again. His arrest this time was made by elements of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of Moka on the morning of Tuesday February 27. A raid on his home in Crève-Cœur uncovered cannabis, seeds of the drug, rolling papers and a sum of money suspected to have come from the sale of the drug. An electronic barnacle was also seized. The CID suspects that it was used to weigh drugs, the market value of which is estimated at Rs 3 million.
A team of police officers led by Inspector Motee and under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Vikash Babajee, head of the East Division CID, arrived at the home of Roppnarain Lootooa. The latter, who has been suspended from his duties as fire chief since his first arrest for drug trafficking, had been arrested by police officers from the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) of the North Division on the evening of Friday August 19, 2022. Forty-eight cannabis plants (1,035 grams), three hundred and fifty-three cannabis seeds and an electronic scale were found in his home. The value of the drug was estimated at Rs 1,469,300. He was in the sights of this team of police officers, who had information that he was involved in an illicit trade.
On Wednesday morning, February 28, Roopnarain Lootooa was brought before the Pamplemousses court. He is facing a provisional charge of drug trafficking. He was subsequently taken back into custody. The police objected to his release.
