A provisional charge of aiding and abetting in the commission of a crime has been laid against Jean Stephane Frederic Dursoniah, a 30-year-old freelance sound engineer. The latter is the owner of the van in which officers of the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) of the Northern Division managed to remove a bag containing 10.5 grams of cannabis in the early hours of Thursday morning, 8 September. In another car intercepted by police officers, 2.1 kilos were seized and the police arrested two suspects. The total value of the seized drugs is Rs 15 million. Stephane Dursoniah, who lives on Route Royale, Pailles, reported the theft of his white Nissan vehicle at around 1.45pm on Thursday, September 8. The thirty year old was brought before the Bail and Remand Court (BRC) on Saturday 10 September and is being held in a police cell.
In the course of the day on Friday 9 September, Stephane Dursoniah was arrested by the men of Chief Inspector Seeven Valaydon of the Grand Bay ADSU, and the same team proceeded to seize the Rs 15 million worth of drugs. It is suspected that the drugs originated from Reunion Island. In a statement to the police, he said that he had been arrested and that he was being held for questioning on the evening of Friday, September 9.
In his statement at the Saint-Pierre police station, the Pailles resident said that his van was stolen from the New Sport Complex in Côte d’Or where it was parked. According to his version, his vehicle, which was locked, was stolen between 8.45am on Wednesday 7 September and 7am on Thursday 8 September. Investigators are sceptical about this suspect’s version. He is suspected of having conspired with the two men, who managed to take over the drug trade.
It was during an ADSU operation at around 2.30am on Thursday 8 September that a blue Toyota car was intercepted at the junction of the Menagerie, Cassis road leading to the M1 motorway. However, a white van, driving in the same direction, did not stop for a police check. It was stopped and police officers were able to remove a bag containing 12 parcels of drugs before the driver regained control of the vehicle and fled. In the meantime, a search of the car revealed a 1.05 kilo parcel of cannabis behind the driver’s seat and the seat of the passenger next to him.
