the increasing proliferation of new illicit synthetic drugs in the country, in particular, Fentanyl, Xylazin…
(No. B/11) Mr K. Lobine (First Member for La Caverne & Phoenix) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister 132 of Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to the increasing proliferation of new illicit synthetic drugs in the country, in particular, Fentanyl, Xylazine and Nitazene, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to the number of – (a) reported cases of possession thereof from November 2024 as at date, and (b) persons found to be under the influence of these drugs, indicating the immediate actions taken/being envisaged in relation thereto.
Reply: I am informed by the Ministry of Health and Wellness that Fentanyl and Xylazine are both listed in Schedule II of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Fentanyl is used mainly to treat patients with chronic severe pain, especially cancer patients or patients suffering from severe pain following surgery, whereas Xylazine is used as a sedative, anaesthetic, muscle relaxant, and analgesic for animals. Both Fentanyl and Xylazine can be imported by pharmaceutical wholesalers after getting import permits from the Pharmacy Department of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. As for Nitazenes, which are a novel class of synthetic opioids, they are not yet listed in the Dangerous Drugs Act. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has been requested to review the Schedules to the Dangerous Drugs Act, to include Nitazenes. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that for the period November 2024 to 31 January 2025, one case suspected to be Nitazene was reported to the Police by the Officer of the Customs and Anti-Narcotics Section of the Mauritius Revenue Authority who secured a parcel at the Harbour Post Office on 16 January 2025. A sample of the substance has been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination and a report from the Laboratory is awaited. The case is under enquiry. With regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that, for the period of November 2024 to 31 January 2025, there has been no reported case of person found under the influence of Fentanyl and Xylazine. I have in my earlier reply to PQ B/4 expressed the commitment of my Government in the fight against drug trafficking and use, as spelt out in the Presidential Address –
133 1. a Select Committee of the National Assembly will be appointed to address the scourge of drugs, and 2. a National Drug Policy Monitoring and Coordinating Agency will be set up under the chairmanship of Mr Sam Lauthan – Adviser at Prime Minister ’s Office. SSR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – NEW AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER PROJECT