the 95 kgs of cocaine discovered in the engine of a tractopelle in July 2019, he will, for the benefit of th…
(No. B/205) Dr. F. Aumeer (Third Member for Port Louis South & Port Louis Central) 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 kgs of cocaine discovered in the engine of a tractopelle in July 2019, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Commissioner of Police, information as to 118 where matters stand as to the inquiry initiated thereinto, indicating the number of arrests, if any, effected in connection therewith to date.
Reply: I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on 10 July 2019, at around 15:30 hours, the employees of Scomat Ltd, located at Grewals Lane, Pailles, discovered three black kit bags while inspecting the engine compartment of a Wheel Loader imported from Brazil. The black bags which were concealed near the exhaust muffler, contained suspicious substances. They informed the Service Manager, who subsequently sought the assistance of the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU). Upon the arrival of the ADSU officers, the three bags, which were suspected to contain cocaine, were handed over to them for investigation. At the ADSU Headquarters, the exhibits were weighed together with the wrappings. The total weight of the exhibits was 92.5 kilograms, with an estimated street value of Rs1.4 billion. The exhibits were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination. On 14 July 2020, the Laboratory forwarded its report to the ADSU, confirming that the exhibits secured were indeed cocaine. As of 14 March 2025, statements were recorded from twenty persons and one person was interviewed in connection with the case but no person was arrested. I am further informed that on 17 June 2022, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice and on 01 July 2022, it was referred to the Police with queries. After these queries were addressed, the case file was resubmitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on 23 July 2023. On 01 August 2023, the case file was returned to the Police with instructions to keep it in abeyance pending confirmation from the Financial Intelligence Unit as to whether they have any information on this matter. The Financial Intelligence Unit has up to now not submitted any reply. On 10 August 2021, the Wheel Loader was returned to Scomat Ltd following the advice of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. This is again another high-profile case which the previous Government allowed to remain unresolved for nearly five years, with no concrete progress. As I have indicated in my reply to the Parliamentary Question B/78 during the Sitting of 04 March 2025, my Government has enlisted the services of foreign investigating bodies to assist the Police in its investigation to elucidate high-profile cases, including this one. MR P. K. DEATH – INQUIRY
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