Approximately Rs 500 Million in Drug Seizures at the Airport in One Week: Increased Surveillance at Entry Points
Is Mauritius International Airport becoming a favored access point for drug trafficking? In just one week, customs and anti-drug units seized nearly Rs 500 million worth of drugs. These operations are taking place amid a surge in arrests of suspects from various nationalities, raising serious concerns among authorities.
In response to this situation, law enforcement has intensified surveillance at all entry points into the territory. The port and maritime routes remain under close watch, especially given past incidents where drugs were transported via speedboats. However, in recent months, investigators are increasingly focusing on air travel, where significant quantities of narcotics are found directly in passengers’ luggage.
Authorities have noticed that foreign nationals are increasingly willing to carry the drugs themselves, often hidden in ordinary suitcases. While mules are frequently apprehended upon arrival in Mauritius, the masterminds behind the operations remain rarely identified or arrested. This disconnect between the operatives and the organizers complicates the work of investigators, who are trying to trace the international networks involved.
The latest incident occurred last Wednesday when two French nationals were arrested at the airport after several types of drugs were discovered in their luggage. Heroin, cocaine, and cannabis were seized, with the two women carrying 17 kg and 15 kg of narcotics, respectively, valued at approximately Rs 240 million. The substances were carefully packed in their suitcases to evade detection.
A few days prior, a 27-year-old Angolan national was arrested under similar circumstances. Authorities found 17.2 kg of synthetic drugs concealed in his luggage, with an estimated market value of Rs 258 million. Again, the suspect was traveling alone, carrying a quantity deemed particularly significant by investigators.
These arrests are part of a series of cases that reflect a persistent trend. Last May, no less than 200 kg of cannabis were found in the luggage of nine passengers arriving from Dubai, one of whom was a seven-year-old child, a fact that had deeply shocked public opinion. The drugs were spread across several suitcases, indicating a structured transport organization.
According to authorities, traffickers now seem to prefer using mules, recruited to transport drugs directly by plane. These individuals carry the substances in their luggage, often without being the actual instigators of the trafficking. This method allows criminal networks to minimize risks for their leaders, who remain distanced from transportation operations and thus evade prosecution more easily.
This evolution in operational methods is concerning for security services. For several months, the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) and the Customs and Anti-Narcotics Section have intensified their controls. Arrivals of foreign nationals are particularly scrutinized, as are flights from certain destinations considered sensitive by authorities.
Enhanced controls rely on targeting techniques, thorough baggage searches, and increased cooperation among the various agencies involved in combating drug trafficking. Authorities are also seeking to strengthen information exchange with their foreign counterparts to identify the transnational networks behind these shipments.
Despite these efforts, the challenge remains significant. The sums involved, as evidenced by the values of recent seizures, illustrate the scale of trafficking and the attractiveness of Mauritius for criminal networks. The airport, as the main entry point into the country, finds itself at the heart of this issue, forcing authorities to continuously adapt their surveillance and intervention strategies.
In this context, the recent seizures made within a single week highlight both the enhanced effectiveness of controls and the persistence of a very real threat. Investigations continue to determine the ramifications of these cases and to identify those who, upstream, organize and finance these drug trafficking operations aimed at Mauritius.
