(4.11 p.m.) ALPHA BRAVERY BOARD VESSEL – DRUG HAUL – FRIDAY 07 NOVEMBER

Madam Speaker, with your permission, I wish to make a statement in relation to the drug haul of 433.10 kg of a white substance suspected to be cocaine; the street value of which is estimated at Rs6.5 billion, on the board vessel Alpha Bravery. On Friday 07 November 2025, in the evening, the Police Headquarters received information that parcels suspected to contain drugs, had been found on board of Alpha Bravery by the captain. Acting promptly on this information, the National Coast Guard initiated continuous tracking of the vessel using its operational surveillance systems and established communication with the ship’s Master. Alpha Bravery left Brazil on 07 October 2025 and was proceeding towards Singapore with a load of iron ore. Its final destination was scheduled to be China. The vessel sailed under the flag of Greece, having on board 23 crew members, including six Hellenics, one Russian and 17 Filipinos. After having found suspected drug parcels on board, Alpha Bravery contacted the Designated Person Ashore of the shipping company based in Greece and requested for bunkering in Mauritius. Given the potential magnitude of the threat, the Commissioner of Police directed the activation of a multi-agency response involving the National Coast Guard; the NCG Maritime Intelligence Cell; the National Coast Guard MARCOS, which is the Indian Navy’s Marine Commando Force; the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit; the Special Mobile Force; the Mauritius Revenue Authority; the Scene of Crime Office; the IT Unit; the K9 Unit and the Elite Marine Commanders. A detailed operation plan was formulated to safely intercept the vessel, prevent any destruction or transfer of evidence at sea, and ensure the safety of all the personnel involved. On the same day, that is, on Saturday 08 November, NCG commandos boarded the Alpha Bravery from the police helicopter. They winched them down. Thereafter, the vessel headed towards Port Louis harbour under escort of the National Coast Guard. Alpha Bravery dropped anchorage at about two nautical miles off the port limit on Sunday 09 November 2025 in the morning. The Police and Customs Anti Narcotic Sections boarded the vessel and met with the Master, a Greek national. Two hours after anchorage, Lawyer Avineshwur Raj Dayal, whose services had been retained by Indo Oceanic, Local Shipping Agent of Alpha Bravery, boarded the cargo vessel. The Master of Alpha Bravery related that he was informed by the chief officer to the effect that on Friday 07 November 2025, whilst the chief engineer was carrying out a routine check in the engine room, he came across 15 suspected abnormal plastic parcels, each secured with a life jacket. The suspected parcels were conceived in the cofferdam of the engine room. The Designated Person Ashore of the shipping company, which is based in Greece, instructed the master to cause the door of the engine room to be welded for security reasons. Upon the instruction of the Police on Saturday 08 November, the welded door of the engine of Alpha Bravery was cut open. There were 15 suspected plastic parcels. A search in the cofferdam of the engine room revealed the presence of a raffia bag containing spare batteries, ropes as well as several ignition lights. All these were secured. It is obvious, Madam Speaker, that the life jackets and other materials found on board were to be used for off-loading in the sea of these drugs. This is a well-known modus operandi among transnational drug traffickers, as a means to recover drugs in the high seas, to evade security patrols. The parcels found on board by the Police were cut. It was found that they contained a white substance suspected to be a ‘Dangerous Drug to wit Cocaine’. The crew members all denied knowledge thereof. DNA swabbing of the parcels was conducted by the Police. The Police has also enlisted the collaboration of other jurisdictions to determine the possible ramifications in this case. Madam Speaker, as I have stated to the House on a number of occasions, the nefarious environment fuelled by drugs, drug addiction, drug trafficking and other drug-related crimes that the previous government has left as legacy is alarming. As stated in the House previously, the previous government failed to act on information it received on the suspicious movement of ships probably transporting illegal substances crossing our waters. At one point, in June 2024, there were two ships crossing near our shores. One headed to Seychelles and the other one was heading to Mauritius. The one that went to Seychelles was arraigned by the Seychelles authorities and 900 kg of narcotics were seized on that vessel. However, the ship advancing in our waters was allowed to move freely. The Police were made aware of this information, but it turned a deaf ear, much to the disappointment of the Regional Maritime Information Centre (RMIC) – a centre which is dedicated to the coordination of regional operations at sea with respect to maritime safety and security in the Western Indian Ocean. Now, we can all guess why the Police in this country did nothing while Seychelles intercepted the other vessel! In the case of the Alpha Bravery, this action of the Mauritian Police constitutes a record- breaking seizure in our fight against narcotics trafficking. It raises the legitimate question as to why such an operation has never been undertaken during the past 10 years, especially when it is common knowledge that transnational drug trafficking knows no frontiers and that our region is not spared from that scourge. It is known that numerous vessels regularly cross the southern seas, with the probability that some are involved in criminal activities, carrying drugs across our waters. If we have been able to effect such seizure, this is due to immediate action following receipt of information indicating the presence of a dodgy vessel possibly with drugs near our waters. Madam Speaker, the Alpha Bravery operation demonstrated outstanding inter-agency coordination, tactical efficiency and operational discipline. From the very outset, monitoring, tracking, and coordination of the entire operation was undertaken in a professional and exemplary manner by the CP and the teams of NCG, MARCOS commandos, ADSU and SOCO teams, the MRA and also K9 units. With the support of the Mauritius Port Authority, all contributed to this remarkable success. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to every officer involved in this complex and high- risk operation. Their actions, conducted in full compliance with established standard operating procedures and international maritime law, ensured both the safety of all personnel and the preservation of crucial evidence. This seizure, which is one of the most significant in the recent times, sends a strong message to international trafficking networks that Mauritius will not tolerate the use of its maritime domain for illicit activities. Our agencies will continue to defend our territorial integrity with professionalism, courage, and resolve. I reaffirm, Madam Speaker, the Government’s steadfast commitment to combating drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. We shall continue to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, invest in intelligence capabilities, and enhance training and technology to safeguard our people, our economy, and our reputation as a law-abiding nation. The success of Operation MV Alpha Bravery stands as a proud example of what can be achieved when our security forces act with unity of purpose, guided by integrity, discipline, and patriotism. This is also why during my official visit to India, I asked for the assistance of India for the control of our now very extensive maritime EEZ, and India, Madam Speaker, has kindly agreed to our request. We are thankful to India. There should be no doubt as to the unflinching resolve of Government to combat drug- trafficking. Madame la présidente, en tant que chef de gouvernement, je voudrais dire, haut et fort, devant cette auguste Assemblée, que nous continuerons à être impitoyables contre la mafia en tout genre. Thank you.

Thank you very much, hon. Prime Minister. May I suggest that we break now and then we can come back for the Bills. Thank you. At 4.21 p.m., the Sitting was suspended. On resuming at 4.56 p.m. with the Madam Speaker in the Chair.

Please be seated.