As part of the fight against drug trafficking, a 28-year-old man, residing at Graviers, was arrested on the 8th of July. After a search in his house, five pieces of aluminum foil paper were discovered in a room. After opening the foil papers, the officers from the ‘Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit’ (ADSU) came across a certain quantity of white powder suspected to be ‘heroin’, a hard and chemical drug, which has been carefully concealed inside a pair of shoes. The suspect was then informed of the facts and of his constitutional rights. He confessed that ‘Yes, everything belongs to me. I earn my living here and there’. The search went on and another officer found eight sheets of aluminium foil paper in a small plastic bag. The suspect was again informed of the facts as well as his constitutional rights and this time, he said ‘all of these are mine, go ahead with your search’. The search continued where several sheets of aluminum foil paper were found again. It was suspected to have been carefully cut in view to be used for the distribution of drugs. The suspect was then arrested under provisional charges of ‘drug trafficking’’ and ‘drug dealing’ and was taken to the ADSU offices in Port Mathurin for questioning. After appearing in court, the next day to be released on bail, same was refused and the latter was taken to jail at Pointe La Gueule, awaiting his next appearance in court.
Furthermore, on the same day, as it seems that the two arrests are linked, the ADSU officers arrested a 23-year-old man, residing at Coromandel. When he was bodily searched by the side of the road where he was found, three scraps of aluminum foil paper were found in one of his pockets. When opened, it was found that the papers contained a certain quantity of white powder suspected to be ‘heroin’. He was informed of his constitutional rights as well as of the charges against him. He then stated that ‘this is heroin that Markus gave me to deliver to someone’. A search was carried out at his house but nothing more was found. He was then taken to the ADSU offices for interrogation.
According to social workers, these arrests are only the tip of the iceberg. As the ‘real bosses’’ are not the least being worried. « I really congratulate the ADSU officers for this wonderful work, but only those at the bottom of the ladder are being trapped. The big bosses are still free to continue their deadly traffic. One must ask oneself how to come these kinds of drugs are now available in Rodrigues, how they arrived here, how they are sold and to whom. Don’t you think there is something fishy in there? Because this is not new, it has been some time since these illicit practices are ongoing. You will never see what you do not want to see. The guy who sells this stuff has no money to invest in buying the stock. It is the boss who feeds him, and his job is to sell. Anybody can witness some people travelling to Mauritius and back within days several times in a year. And shortly afterward, drugs of all sorts start flourishing around the island. The boss is one of us, he is here in Rodrigues, like you and me », said one of them.
To note that this issue is the talk of the town since then. Almost all the population, and political leaders, have spoken against this situation, which is tolerated by no-one, except those who derive great money from this business. The consequences and social impacts of this traffic are feared by everyone, because of its consequences on the local young people. Several actions are planned by the local authorities soon, to fight against hard drugs, as well as all sorts of illicit drugs in the island.
The future of the children of Rodrigues is at risk. Indeed, there is no place for drugs in Rodrigues. As a ‘COVID-Free Island’, Rodrigues must also continue to be known as a ‘drug-free island’. All those who come across those involved in this traffic should without any fear or hesitation contact the police or ADSU and denounce loud and clear this situation. There must be no pity whatsoever, as they do not pity our children.
