Cocaine Hidden in Excavator: Foreign Experts to Solve 5-Year Mystery

On July 10, 2019, staff at Scomat Ltd in Pailles made a shocking discovery: 92.5 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within the engine of an excavator imported from Brazil. This illicit stash, estimated to be worth an astonishing Rs 1.4 billion (around £30 million), sent alarm bells ringing across the Mauritian authorities.

Yet here we are, nearly five years later, and the investigation is still in limbo, with no arrests made and little progress reported.

The incident unfolded when employees at Scomat Ltd found three black bags tucked away near the exhaust of a wheeled loader.

Reacting swiftly, the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) arrived on site to confiscate the suspicious bags.

A forensic examination conducted the following year confirmed their worst fears: the bags contained cocaine, highlighting the disturbing flow of illegal substances through Mauritius.

Since that dramatic day, investigators have recorded twenty statements and interrogated one individual, but not a single suspect has been apprehended.

The case went to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in June 2022, but was sent back to police with requests for further details in July 2023.

By August 2023, the DPP chose to suspend the case, awaiting information from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), which has remained unresponsive.

In a surprising development, the wheeled loader was returned to Scomat Ltd based on the DPP’s recommendation on August 10, 2021.

Such delays have led to growing suspicions regarding potential collusion under the previous administration, raising concerns about the investigation’s integrity.

In a bid to breathe new life into the case, the Mauritian government has now reached out to foreign investigative agencies for assistance.

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam revealed this initiative in a written response presented to the National Assembly last week.

“We wish to dispel any lingering doubts and bring clarity to this case that has persisted for far too long,” he asserted, emphasising the urgency of resolving this prominent investigation.

As these new efforts unfold, there is hope that justice will finally be served in this troubling affair, which is part of a broader landscape of significant cases still awaiting resolution in Mauritius.

Source: Defi Media