High Seas Drug Bust: 2 Mauritians Arrested following 271kg Narcotics Seizure

An international anti-drug operation has culminated in the seizure of 271 kg of narcotics and the arrest of two Mauritian nationals in the Indian Ocean. The suspects were intercepted on the high seas while allegedly attempting to rendezvous with a “mother ship” originating from the Arabian Sea, which was reportedly destined to supply the Mauritian market.

The Seizure and Interception

The major breakthrough occurred on Wednesday, 15 April, when a French patrol vessel spotted the suspect craft off Tromelin Island.

Upon boarding and searching the vessel, authorities discovered a massive haul consisting of:

• 121 kg of cocaine
• 108 kg of heroin
• 42 kg of cannabis

The vessel’s crew, comprised of ten individuals from Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Iran, was taken into custody during the coordinated regional intervention.

The Mauritian Connection

Following the seizure, the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) received intelligence that a local team had been dispatched to collect the cargo.

Surveillance was established in the Baie-du-Tombeau region, where two men were seen departing the coast at midday on Thursday, 16 April.

In the early hours of Friday, 17 April, the Maritime Intelligence Cell of the National Coast Guard intercepted a dual-engine boat in open water.

Onboard were Jeff Désiré Cliff Joséphine, a 35-year-old fisherman from Les Salines, and Jean Hansley Gentil (known as “Bobo”) of Baie-du-Tombeau.

While no drugs were found on their specific craft, investigators discovered a Starlink router and multiple fuel compartments.

Both men were arrested and have been charged with “conspiracy to take delivery of dangerous drugs.”

Regional Intelligence Efforts

The operation was the result of a week-long surveillance effort initiated on 9 April. The Regional Coordination Operations Centre—a collaborative body including Mauritius, Réunion, and the Seychelles—issued the alert after receiving data from a French liaison centre.

The two suspects appeared before the Weekend Court on Saturday, 18 April, and remain in police custody as the investigation continues.

Source: Defi Media