drugs, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to – (a…
(No. B/713) Mr B. Babajee (First Member for Savanne & Black River) asked the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of 23 Finance, Minister for Rodrigues and Outer Islands whether, in regard to drugs, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to – (a) the number of arrests effected on the West Coast in connection therewith over the past five years, indicating – (i) if the arrested persons are Mauritian or foreign nationals, and (ii) where matters stand as to the inquiries initiated thereinto, and (b) whether consideration will be given for the installation of Safe City Surveillance System Cameras on the four entrances of “La Passe”.
Madam Speaker, in regard to parts (a) and (a)(i) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that, between 2020 and 18 July 2025, 117 drug cases have been detected in the West Coast leading to the arrest of 163 suspects, of whom, 146 are of Mauritian nationals and 17 of foreign citizens. As for part (a)(ii) of the question, I am informed that inquiries are in progress in all these cases. With regard to part (b) of the question, concerning the possible installation of Safe City Surveillance Cameras at the roads leading to the four entrances of La Passe, I am informed that there are 204 Safe City Cameras installed at key locations, as well as policing by 11 Police Stations and 7 National Coast Guard Posts. Regular foot, mobile, sea and aerial patrols by the NCG personnel as well as by the Dornier aircraft and Police helicopters, also help monitor the coastal regions. However, the region is monitored by three Coastal Surveillance Radar System (CSRS) stations located at Le Morne, Albion, and Grand Gaube. These operate on a 24-hour basis and provide real-time data on vessel movements. A more advanced CSRS, donated by the Government of Japan, is expected to be operational by October or November of next year, and which will offer significantly enhanced surveillance capacity. In addition, with a view to enhancing our maritime surveillance, Mauritius continues to collaborate with regional maritime centres namely, the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar and the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles.
24 I also wish to inform the House that, in February 2024, Mauritius signed a bilateral agreement with Reunion Island to strengthen cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and the use of maritime routes for smuggling. Given the current surveillance framework in place, Madam Speaker, and the enhancements already underway, the question of installing additional Safe City cameras along the West Coast covering the roads leading to the four main “La Passe” would best be addressed by the outcome of a comprehensive risk and threat assessment which is ongoing. The matter remains under consideration, and further reinforcement measures will be taken as and when deemed operationally necessary.
The hon. Second Member for Grand’ Baie and Poudre D'or, Mr Beejan! DUBAI EXPO 2020 – DELEGATION – ALLOWANCES & PER DIEM