Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that from Tuesday 12 November 2024 to Wednesday 12 March 2025, 1,076 drug cases have been reported to the Police. With regard to part (a) of the question, 942 persons have been arrested in connection therewith. As regards part (b) of the question, I am further informed that –  460 persons have been charged for possession of dangerous drugs;  433 persons have been charged for possession of dangerous drugs with an averment of drug dealing;  44 persons have been charged for possession of dangerous drugs with an averment of drug trafficking, and

29  in the course of investigation of these drug cases, 4 persons have been charged for money laundering and 1 person for perverting the course of justice. Madam Speaker, as stated in the Government Programme 2025-2029, the fight against drug trafficking and use will be one of the major priorities of my Government through the provision of additional resources to the Police to increase its capacity to deal more efficiently with drug trafficking and related issues. In addition, a National Agency for Drug Control, that is, the National Drug Policy Monitoring and Coordinating Agency is being set up and will be a central hub, bringing together various institutions to coordinate efforts in combating drug trafficking, providing rehabilitation services, and supporting families who are affected by substance abuse. Madam Speaker, I have already informed the House in my reply to PQ B/3 during the Sitting of Tuesday 04 February of this year that Mr Sam Lauthan will be the Chairperson of the Agency. In addition, Dr. Fayzal Sulliman will be the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency. He has wide experience working with governments, NGOs in the field of substance abuse both locally and in the African region. In fact, he has worked extensively with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime until his retirement in 2022. A Bill has already been drafted for the establishment of the Agency and consultations are being held with stakeholders. As soon as this is over, the Bill will be introduced in the House.

Thank you. Yes!

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I am interested in drug dealing and trafficking. These cases notoriously take a long time before being translated into a formal charge, the main reason being the Forensic Science Laboratory taking such a long time dealing with so many cases. The second reason being the itemised bills, as we call them, call logs and SMS logs also taking a long time. Will the hon. Prime Minister see to it urgently that these two be revamped so that cases which now take, on average, five years to six years are dealt with swiftly?

Hon. Prime Minister!

The hon. Member is right. It is taking a long time, and the reason is the FSL is not doing the work it should be doing. I had brought in a foreign expert from

30 Scotland, if I remember correctly, who was here to advise, and she told me, ‘You will never get results the way the FSL is operating.’ They send people to court instead of doing their work in the lab. When you need to send people to court, you have to send them, but not go there day in, day out; wait for the case to be taken; it is postponed; come back to the lab. This is how it is being done. We are looking at this, I can assure the hon. Member, to correct this.

Thank you. Yes.

Madam Speaker, second question. We have been promised a master plan on drugs, including a Select Committee in the House, and I put the question to him. This had been promised; it has still not come to date. Can the hon. Prime Minister give us a time frame for coming up with the setting up of a Select Committee, as well as with the master plan?

Hon. Prime Minister!

The law for the Agency, which I have just mentioned, is coming to Cabinet this Friday. It will be set up.

Very good! Next question please, hon. First Member for La Caverne and Phoenix! MAURITIUS PRISON SERVICE – PRISON POPULATION