Record Drug Seizure on the Alpha Bravery Ship: 450 kg of Cocaine Worth Rs 6 Billion Sealed at the Adsu HQ
A significant drug seizure took place off the coast of Mauritius, resulting in the interception of approximately 450 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over Rs 6 billion, aboard the Alpha Bravery vessel. Flying the Greek flag, this cargo ship was engaged in commercial transit between Brazil and Singapore when it was intercepted on Sunday, November 9.
The operation began on Friday, November 7. While the ship was in Mauritian territorial waters, Captain Emmanuil Drossos alerted a shipping agency based in Port-Louis following a remarkable discovery made by his crew. The Mauritian police were promptly informed of the situation.
This alert originated from the ship's Chief Engineer, Razil Oliveros, a Greek national. During a routine inspection on Friday, he noticed that access to the engine room had been tampered with. After informing Captain Drossos, a thorough check of the area was ordered. It was during this search that the discovery was made in the ship's Coffer Dam – the space separating the two hull sections.
Several bags were found, each containing about fifteen packets of powder, with an average weight of 30 kilos per bag. Preliminary Field Tests quickly confirmed that the powder was cocaine. Additionally, around fifty fishing net lights and their activation batteries were seized. The anti-drug unit (Adsu) suspects that these lights were intended to be attached to the packages before being thrown into the sea for easy retrieval by accomplices.
Once the alert was given, a coordinated intervention was set in motion. On Saturday, November 8, six marine commandos (MARCOS), supported by the Helicopter Squadron, were dispatched at around 2 PM, 24 nautical miles out to take control of the ship.
On Sunday, November 9, teams from the commandos, Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS), Maritime Intelligence Cell (MIC), and Adsu boarded the ship. Approximately two nautical miles from the port, around 9 AM, the Mauritian police officially took possession of the drugs. The captain facilitated access by welcoming the police and guiding them to the exact location of the illicit cargo, situated in the engine room, a secluded area with dual access. This room had been sealed off at the captain's order following the discovery, until the arrival of Mauritian authorities.
After being secured and inspected by law enforcement, the Alpha Bravery vessel, whose final destination was Singapore, was escorted to the Port-Louis port area. Numerous officials from various security and anti-narcotics units were present, including DCP Rassen, head of the Adsu, NCG commander Captain Binoop, and several senior police officers as well as members of the Port's DCIU.
The search operation began on Sunday afternoon. The 15 bags of cocaine were unloaded under armed escort by commandos and Adsu personnel. The packages were immediately loaded onto two armored vehicles from the Special Mobile Force (SMF) for prompt transport to the Adsu headquarters at the Central Barracks.
The 23 Crew Members to be Questioned
In an initial statement made at the port on Sunday, police spokesperson Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Police (DASP) Lidialam confirmed the intervention strategy: "We made the decision to allow the ship to enter our territory and seized the drugs." He noted that the operation was conducted jointly by specialized police units. He also clarified that when Mauritian authorities boarded the ship, the engine room, where the drugs were found, was already sealed off by the captain.
DASP Lidialam stated that the weighing exercise conducted on land and the sealing of the drugs established a total weight of approximately 450 kilograms. He added that the Mauritian police maintained constant vigilance and control of the ship during its journey to Port-Louis. On Sunday afternoon, the drugs were sealed at the Central Barracks, marking a crucial step in the investigation, while the search operation aboard the ship continued. The identities of the 23 crew members, who will be questioned by the Adsu in Port, have been provided.
