the 95 kg of cocaine worth Rs 1.4 billion seized in a backhoe loader on 04 July 2019, he will, for the benef…
(No. B/648) Mr B. Babajee (First Member for Savanne & Black River) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to the 95 kg of cocaine worth Rs 1.4 billion seized in a backhoe loader on 04 July 2019, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to where matters stand regarding the inquiry initiated thereinto, indicating whether the – (a) assistance of Interpol is envisaged in relation thereto, and (b) cocaine is in the possession of the Police and, if so, further indicate whether – (i) all the 95 kg is stored and where, and (ii) regular monitoring thereof is carried out.
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I again wish to refer the hon. Member to the reply I made to Parliamentary Question B/205 on March of this year where I gave details of the seizure of the 92.5 kg of cocaine in the tractopelle on 10 July 2019. The value was of Rs1.4 billion. R 1.4 milliards! Pas millions, milliards! Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that, as the case has international ramifications, the Police are working in close collaboration with Interpol and other countries in the region for the identification and the arrest of the probable suspects. The Police have sent the case file together with the report from the Financial Intelligence Unit to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice and, therefore, the course of action will be taken, accordingly.
27 As for parts (b)(i) and (ii) of the question, I am informed that in accordance with the procedures set out in the Police Standing Orders 138, all the drugs seized are safely kept in police custody and are under 24-hour surveillance.
Hon. Second Member for Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle! PUBLIC SECTOR DEBT – LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS – FISCAL STABILITY & DEBT SERVICING