The police commissioner Anil Kumar Dip, has cleaned up the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU). This Thursday, October 21, an order of transfer fell, which saw the dismantling of the former team of Roche-Bois led by Inspector Lepois. This team which has under its responsibility, localities such as Karo Kalyptis and Alfred Besnard Street (known as ‘Parc Coson’ and which is considered the capital of drugs in Mauritius) has on many occasions, been criticized for its work on these two sites.
All these reasons could explain why Inspector Lepois is now at the Special Mobile Force (SMF). Two of his close collaborators have also been transferred.
Let’s remember that the functioning of this team was also put to the test four months ago. This is the case of the other team that, alerted by informants, came to the aid of Jean Deveaux Augustin in Karo Kalyptis after he was kidnapped, sequestered and tortured for the theft of a stock of heroin. Unfortunately, this former referee from Rodrigues succumbed to his injuries. Fourteen people involved in drug trafficking in this area were arrested by the Major Crimes Investigation Team (MCIT) of the South, headed by Assistant Superintendent Pravin Ghoora, in relation to this murder.
It should be noted that two members of the Roche-Bois ADSU have also been under investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) for several months. Details have been provided to the Moka investigators regarding some unorthodox practices within this team.
Among the transferred officers is Inspector Sevanandee, who led the operation against alleged drug dealer John Brown, John Brant Vivien for civil status, in Cite St. Clair, Goodlands, on April 29, 2020. His right-hand man, Sgt. Greedharry, will join the regular force.
Although John Brown is considered to be the head of a drug ring in this locality known to be a hub for drug trafficking in the North, Inspector Sevanandee’s team is suspected to have framed him with Rs 1.3 million of synthetic drugs. The video surveillance images of the alleged trafficker, at whose house Rs 4,892,150 in banknotes and Rs 185,282 in coins were found in the double bottom of a wooden cabinet in a concrete table five years ago, do not match the version of the police officers who came to arrest him.
Inspector Appasamy of the Rose-Belle ADSU was also parachuted in. While Inspector Sevanandee is going to the Special Supporting Unit (SSU), his colleague will be assigned to the Vacoas police station. Among the newcomers to the ADSU is Inspector Vally, who has long worked at the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in the West. Also new is Inspector Balambha of the Central Division. Nineteen soldiers from the SMF, where Anil Kumar Dip has been the commander since the appointment of Khemraj Servansing as Commissioner of Police, are joining the Drug Squad.
