Record Seizure of Over 400 Kilos of Cocaine Off the Coast of Mauritius

A record seizure of over 400 kilos of cocaine has been made off the coast of Mauritius, marking the largest drug bust ever in the region. Initial estimates from the police indicated that the packages, initially reported as 300 kilos, actually contained more than 400 kilos of cocaine.

During a press conference this afternoon, DASP Suhail Lidialam specified that the drugs were found aboard the Greek ship Alpha Bravery, which was en route from Brazil to Singapore.

Onboard: a spectacular discovery. Several packages containing nearly 400 kilos of cocaine, with an estimated market value of over Rs 4.5 billion. The ship’s captain alerted the Mauritian authorities after the discovery, which occurred on Friday while the vessel was making its crossing from Brazil to Singapore.

Since Sunday morning, teams from the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) and the National Coast Guard (NCG) commandos have been deployed at the port following the interception of the ship in deep waters, over 2,000 nautical miles from Mauritius. On board were 23 crew members and the captain, who has been detained and escorted to the port for questioning by several police units.

Notably, the drugs were hidden in life jackets, presumably to be thrown overboard before being retrieved. Was this significant quantity of drugs destined for Mauritius or another country? The police investigation will need to determine that.

For now, the cocaine packages have been transported to the Central Barracks for an official weighing exercise.