Drugs, drugs mega problem in Seychelles and the region

[Grandlarousse]

More drug seizures by the NDEA

16-October-2014
More cannabis plants have been seized on Mahé while a certain amount of heroin has been confiscated on La Digue by the National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA).

Furthermore, two persons, a man and a woman, have been arrested after 492 grams of heroin, with a current street value of R1,750,000 was seized by the NDEA in an intelligence led operation that was carried out in the Cascade area on Friday evening.

A communique from the agency said that a further cannabis plantation was recovered in the Bougainville area on October 10, 2014 bringing to 985 the total number of cannabis plants seized in this general area in the last number of weeks.

This latest seizure occurred in the same general area as the last two seizures on September 24 and September 30, 2014 respectively.
The NDEA believes that further plantations remain to be discovered and efforts to locate these plantations are ongoing.

These seizures confirm the NDEA’s view that the plantations represent a commercial undertaking by a number of individuals supplying drugs to the local market.

The commercial nature of the illegal drug business was further emphasised by the latest seizure of heroin on La Digue on October 13, 2014. During the course of an intelligence led operation, NDEA agents seized a total of thirteen packets of heroin, indicating that this was a trafficking operation by those involved. Following the seizure two persons were arrested – a 19-year-old shop assistant and a 30-year-old waitress. An application to remand both suspects was declined in court and both have been released on bail pending further investigation.

The ongoing drug situation on La Digue is closely controlled by the NDEA since the discovery of 126 separate deals of heroin, a quantity of cannabis and a large amount of cash was made there on May 20, 2011, the first of its kind on the island.

As for the Cascade seizure, the operation is the culmination of months of planning and monitoring the movements of key individuals involved in the drug trade. This latest seizure brings to 75.5 kilos the amount of drugs of varying types that have been seized by the NDEA during the year to date, surpassing significantly that seized during the previous year.

The persons arrested, a 41-year-old fisherman and a 32-year-old hairdresser were observed driving in a pickup in the Cascade area shortly before they were arrested and were stopped by an NDEA patrol. The drugs were recovered and the occupants of the pickup were arrested and have appeared in court.

A major investigation is underway to discover the source of the drugs, which are believed to have been imported from abroad, and whether there were others involved in its importation and or distribution prior to its interception. A file on the matter will be presented to the Attorney General in due course.

Cascade is one of the areas that has been targeted by drug traffickers in the past, resulting in concern being expressed for the safety of people living there and of children who are regularly exposed to the activities of the dealers.

The NDEA is appealing to the public to continue their cooperation in the fight against drug traffickers, whose addictive substances are ruining the lives of so many young people, and bringing them into conflict with the law.

The NDEA may be contacted on confidential line number 2781451.

Source Seychelles Nation

[Grandlarousse]

Seychellois convicts in Egypt lose appeal against death sentence

16-October-2014
The three Seychellois currently in Qena prison, Republic of Egypt have lost their appeal against the death sentence imposed on them by the Egyptian courts on April 7, 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday.

They are Ronny Norman Jean, Yvon John Vinda and Dean Dominic Loze.
“Although it is the government’s policy to respect the sovereignty and judicial process in other countries, it nevertheless upholds the rights of its citizens to a fair trial,” says the ministry in a communiqué.

To this end, while reassuring the Egyptian authorities of its ‘zero tolerance’ policy against drug trafficking, the government wrote in 2013 to the Egyptian to appeal for a fair trial and the avoidance of capital punishment which does not exist in our legal system.

In the same vein, the government took all measures practical and feasible to ensure that the Seychellois obtained the required legal and consular representation.

The decision of the highest appellate body in Egypt now implies that execution orders will follow.
Meanwhile, the government is not relenting in its efforts to pursue all possible diplomatic and legal avenues in consultation with the Egyptian authorities to avert the death penalty.

The three Seychellois were arrested on April 22, 2011 in the Red Sea after Egyptian police officers found three tons of drugs inside their South African flagged boat.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243326

[Grandlarousse]

Fight against drug abuse gets further boost

29-October-2014
Minister Morgan speaking at the launch of the series of workshops yesterdayThe United Nations Office on Drug and Crimes (UNODC) is organising a series of workshop for the different stakeholders in the fight against drugs in Seychelles.

The workshops are being organised in collaboration with the social affairs department in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports.

The series of workshop which is being led by Dr Reychad Abdool, UNODC senior regional HIV & Aids adviser and Raj Boyjoonauth, UNODC management & training consultant started on Monday and will run until Friday.

The workshop is part of the UNODC programme of cooperation with Seychelles, among which is developing capacity of various organisations to better deal with the increasing number of drug dependent persons and also strengthening the prevention programmes with different target groups.
Those attending the workshops will get an overview of the drug situation across sub-Saharan Africa, understand why people take drugs, among other issues.

It was the Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan who officially opened the series of workshop yesterday at the Care House in the presence of the Minister for Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Vincent Meriton, Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development Idith Alexander and other guests.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=243474

[Grandlarousse]

R29m worth of drugs seized in two days

30-January-2015

Illegal drugs with a street value of almost R29 million have been seized by the NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) in the space of two days.

The first of the seizures, consisting of 18.2 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis occurred on Monday this week in the Cascade area, and the second, much larger seizure, consisting of 39.75 kilogrammes also of compressed cannabis, occurred on Wednesday in the Beoliere area, bringing the total quantity of illegal drugs seized in recent days to almost 58 kilogrammes.

Four persons between the ages of 20 and 45 years have appeared in court in connection with the seizures. They have been remanded in custody to a later date pending the completion of investigations and analysis procedures.

Those arrested are believed to form part of an importation and distribution network. Follow up investigations are ongoing into the activities of those arrested and also into the activities of others, not yet arrested, who are operating both within and outside the country.

This latest seizure of drugs is believed to have emanated from Madagascar and shipped to this country by local operatives using privately owned boats. Those arrested were up to the time of their arrest in full-time employment which has now been placed in jeopardy as a result of their actions.

The NDEA is anxious to hear from any person with information on these latest seizures or information concerning any form of drug related activity.
The agency may be contacted on 4611909 or on confidential line 2781451.
All information received will be treated in strict confidence.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244359

[Grandlarousse]

R3.5m worth of heroin seized

03-February-2015
Heroin with a street value of at least R3.5 million has been recovered on board a ship in the port of Victoria.
The drugs seized on board the commercial cargo vessel
A communique from the NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) said that the drugs were discovered on board a commercial cargo vessel that had recently docked in the port.

A number of suspects have been interviewed and an investigation is ongoing.
The boat had arrived in Seychelles en route from the port of Mombasa.

This discovery is the latest in a series of seizures that have been made of drugs entering the country from abroad. On December 14 last year four and half kilogrammes of drugs were seized from a boat that had entered the country from Madagascar; on January 22 this year a quarter of a kilogramme of drugs were seized from a supply boat.

The latest discovery brings the total amount of drugs that have been prevented from being sold on the street since the beginning of this year to over 60 kilogrammes, the street value of which amounts to R34 million.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244392

[Grandlarousse]

Drug trafficking prosecution - NDEA arrests former and serving agents

09-February-2015
Two persons have been taken into custody by the NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) in connection with an investigation into attempts to influence the outcome of a pending drug trafficking prosecution that is currently before the courts.

One of those arrested is a serving NDEA agent, while the other is a former agent.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244457

[Grandlarousse]

POSSESSION D’HÉROÏNE: Gro Derek et Patrick Bundhoo fixés sur leur sort le 10 avril

Les plaidoiries dans le cadre du procès intenté à Rudolf Dereck Jean-Jacques, alias Gro Derek, et Lindsay Patrick Bundhoo pour possession de 1,46 g d’héroïne à des fins de distribution ont eu lieu ce matin devant la magistrate Renuka Dabee. Alors que la poursuite indique que Gro Derek était la seule personne présente à son domicile le jour de la perquisition, la défense avance qu’il n’a pas été prouvé que l’accusé vivait seul dans cette demeure et que la connaissance de cause n’a pas été prouvée.

« It has not been established in Court that there was no one else living in the house before and during the raid », a lancé Me Yahya Nazroo lors de sa plaidoirie ce matin. Selon l’homme de loi des deux accusés, aucune preuve n’a été fournie en Cour prouvant que Gro Derek était la seule personne à occuper cette maison et le fait qu’il ait été interpellé alors qu’il était assis sur le sofa dans lequel la drogue était dissimulée ne prouvait pas qu’il savait que la drogue s’y trouvait. « It is not for the police to draw his own opinion, but for a court of law to decide upon evidence adduced », devait-il déclarer. Il a ajouté que le père de Gro Derek avait confirmé que plusieurs personnes vivaient dans cette maison, y compris l’accusé Patrick Bundhoo.
http://www.lemauricien.com/article/poss ... t-10-avril

[Grandlarousse]

More drugs seized

12-February-2015
A 57-year-old Kenyan born business woman currently resident in Seychelles has been arrested in connection with the seizure of more than two and a half kilogrammes of drugs, according to a communiqué.

The drugs were seized in the Port Glaud area by the NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) during the course of two separate operations on February 10 and 11, 2015. The person arrested is believed to be part of a drug distribution network selling and distributing drugs that are believed to have been imported from the east coast of Africa.

This latest seizure brings the total volume of drugs seized this year to 62.7 kilogrammes, with a market value of some R35 million.

In a separate incident, the NDEA arrested a French national after a small quantity of what is believed to be cocaine was found in his possession.


Seychelles Nation

[Grandlarousse]

Two men and a woman appeared in Court this morning and have been remanded in custody following their arrest on Saturday in connection with the biggest drug bust in the country's history.
32 Kilograms of heroin with a street value of 112,000,000 rupees where seized at La Misere by the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA).
Now the questions LSH wishes to know the answer to is; where does the accused get $US8 million to import 32kg of heroin, who are the other people in their cartel; which government agencies these accomplices worked for; how much drug they've imported in the past, before finally being caught; what more can the NDEA, FIU, Central Bank or the police do to track suspected financial transactions by Seychellois individuals or businesses?
Let us know what you think about this latest news.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244881

[Grandlarousse]

Comment opèrent les drogués...

Des enquêteurs saisissant la voiture d’un présumé trafi quant à Riche-Terre le 28 février. Ils ont saisi 126 doses d’héroïne chez lui et 75 «pouliahs» de gandia dans cette voiture.
Des enquêteurs saisissant la voiture d’un présumé trafiquant à Riche-Terre, le 28 février. Ils ont aussi saisi 126 doses d’héroïne en sa possession et 75 «pouliahs» de gandia qui se trouvaient dans la voiture.
Par Vinesen Abel
22 Mars 2015
Plusieurs arrestations ont été effectuées ces jours-ci pour possession d’héroïne. En 24 heures, deux points de vente ont été mis hors service à Riche-Terre. Ce qui amène les policiers de l’Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) à constater que des faubourgs de la capitale sont approvisionnés en héroïne depuis peu. Comment s’organisent les dealers ?

http://www.lexpress.mu/article/260156/c ... nt-drogues