Elements of the National Coast Guard (NCG) found a speedboat stuck on the reef near Bassin Vert in the Flic en Flac lagoon on Thursday morning, June 15. An inspection of the boat revealed a grey backpack containing a black plastic bag containing three packages of cannabis, an aluminium bag with a window envelope containing cannabis seeds and a small transparent plastic container also containing cannabis seeds. The market value of the drugs is estimated at Rs 906,180. The speedboat, worth Rs 4.1 million, was reported stolen or drifting in Pereybère lagoon by its owner, a lawyer of South African nationality, on the morning of Thursday June 15.
Shortly before noon on Thursday June 15, the Flic en Flac police station was informed of the case, after NCG officers found the boat stuck on the reef in forward mode, with its two 150 hp Suzuki engines switched on. A gray backpack was found on the deck of the outboard. Inside was a black plastic bag containing a parcel wrapped in adhesive tape, and two other parcels wrapped in transparent adhesive tape suspected of containing drugs. A resealable aluminium bag containing cannabis seeds, and a transparent plastic container containing a quantity of the same seeds. A total of twenty cannabis seeds were seized. Cigarette filters, a pack of cigarettes, a bracelet, a carton of Malboro brand cigarettes, clothing, a pair of slippers and a fishing reel.
The boat, with the exhibits on board, was towed to the NCG station in Flic en Flac. The Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (Adsu) at police headquarters was alerted and dispatched a team to the scene. Forensic technicians boarded the boat to take fingerprints and perform DNA tests. A pair of scissors that had been placed in the ignition switch was also removed and seized as evidence.
An investigation has been launched by Adsu to trace the occupants of the boat. These investigators suspect that they had left to take delivery of this drug on the high seas from another boat. The owner reported that his speedboat had been stolen between 6 p.m. on Wednesday June 14 and 7 a.m. on Thursday June 15. As they approached the shore, their boat became stuck on the reef. All this information will be carefully checked by Adsu investigators.
