Synthetic Drugs: The Silent Plague Destroying Our Youth

Synthetic drugs are becoming a silent plague that is destroying our youth. Some of these young individuals are barely 14 years old, wandering through alleyways or falling asleep on public benches. In Mauritius, synthetic drugs have taken a firm hold, affecting an increasing number of young people and disrupting entire families. Behind the statistics lies a social reality that is often ignored.

In recent years, these cheap and easily accessible substances have replaced traditional drugs like heroin or cannabis. Their use has spread across numerous neighborhoods, turning into a major public health issue.

According to an Afrobarometer survey, drugs are now seen by Mauritians as the second greatest challenge facing the country, right after unemployment. Nearly 71% of respondents believe that current government measures are insufficient to combat this phenomenon.

Recent Statistics

Between November 12, 2024, and March 12, 2025, the police recorded 1,076 drug-related cases and made 942 arrests. This included 460 individuals arrested for simple possession, 433 for possession with intent to traffic, 44 for trafficking, four for money laundering, and one for obstruction of justice.

In a six-month period (from December 2024 to July 3, 2025), customs and the anti-drug unit (at the port and airport) detected 58 trafficking cases, seizing a total of 691.2 kg of drugs, valued at an estimated 1.1 billion rupees. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) confirmed the presence of a specific synthetic cannabinoid on the island: methyl(s)-2-(1H-indazole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate.

A significant seizure occurred on May 29, 2025, at SSR airport (flight from Dubai), where 210.74 kg of cannabis was found, valued at approximately Rs 252,888,000.

On October 27, 2025, a Malagasy national was arrested upon arrival from Antananarivo with 1.48 kg of synthetic drugs concealed in her luggage.

For the entirety of 2024, seizures of illicit products totaled over 1.56 billion rupees, including cannabis (808.9 kg), hashish, heroin, and synthetic cannabinoids (valued at around Rs 71 million for certain types), among others.