Mauritian Police Seize Rs 957 Million in Synthetic Drugs since 2025

Synthetic drugs with an estimated street value of Rs 957.2 million have been seized and 1,650 people arrested in Mauritius since January 2025, the Prime Minister has revealed.

Addressing a Private Notice Question from Leader of the Opposition Joe Lesjongard on Tuesday, 2 June, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam laid out the staggering scale of the island’s synthetic drug crisis, detailing police crackdowns, forensic discoveries, and a rising toll of casualties on the nation’s roads.

Police Crackdowns and Seizures

The massive Rs 957.2 million haul was the result of 361 targeted law enforcement operations conducted by the police.

Between January 2025 and 1 June 2026, authorities officially recorded 1,594 cases linked to synthetic drugs, culminating in the arrest of 1,650 individuals.

Road Safety Turmoil

The crisis has increasingly spilled onto the roads, leading to strict traffic enforcement.

During the same period, police stopped and checked 1,837,461 vehicles, identifying 1,068 motorists driving under the influence of synthetic substances.

The human cost of drug-impaired driving has been severe, with 44 recorded road accidents involving drivers who tested positive for synthetic drugs. These collisions resulted in six fatalities and left another six people injured.

Evolution of the Threat

Data from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) further underscores the evolving nature of the narcotics market. In 2025 alone, 1,110 submitted samples were confirmed to be synthetic cannabinoids.

The laboratory’s long-term findings highlight a rapidly shifting landscape; since the very first case of synthetic drug use was detected in Mauritius in 2013, approximately 60 new psychoactive substances have been identified by forensic scientists.

Source: l’Express