Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that on Tuesday 11 November 2025 at 12.45 hours, one Mr B. J. S., a Belgian national residing at La Gaulette, reported the disappearance of his pleasure craft, bearing number PPC 7380 OL 10, which had been berthed and moored in the lagoon in front of the Lux Hotel, Le Morne, at the Black River National Coast Guard Police Post. An enquiry was opened and on the same day, following information obtained, officers of the National Coast Guard and the CID proceeded to the Petite Rivière Noire salt pan, in the ex-shipyard basin, where the pleasure craft was found. It was unattended. A search was also carried out in the vicinity of the region and 15 jerry cans of motor spirit, hidden among mangrove vegetation was also discovered about 50 metres from the craft. The CID, Scene of Crime Office (SOCO) and FSL personnel were called to the locus for examination and both the craft and the jerry cans which were secured. Madam Speaker, in regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the enquiry is ongoing and the Police is exploring all avenues, including the possibility that the pleasure craft may have been used to travel to Réunion Island or other neighbouring islands. As regards part (b) of the question, 31 Police Officers are posted at the Black River National Coast Guard Police as at 20 November 2025. It includes – (i) One Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ii) 9 Police Sergeants; (iii) 19 Police Constables, and

33 (iv) 2 Temporary Police Constables. I am also informed that in the course of the enquiry, officers have viewed the CCTV footage at Lux Hotel. No arrest has been effected so far. The Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) has also been informed of the present enquiry and has started intelligence gathering, given the nature of the items recovered. With regard to part (c) of the question, I am further informed by the Commissioner of Police that it is not envisaged at this point, to entrust the enquiry to a new team of investigators. But this might have to happen later. Since the hon. Member has made mention of the Mauritius–Reunion axis, I wish to inform the House that a series of reinforced measures are being implemented to counter illicit activities including drug trafficking activities, particularly along the Mauritius–Reunion axis. Cooperation with Réunion authorities is ongoing and is being strengthened through the Groupe de Contact sur la Sécurité, which facilitates, inter alia – (a) real-time intelligence sharing between the ADSU and L’antenne de l’office anti- stupéfiants (OFAST) for drug trafficking operations; (b) coordinated maritime surveillance between the National Coast Guard and the Forces armées dans la Zone-sud de l'océan Indien (FAZOI); (c) information sharing and capacity building between the MRA and La direction générale des douanes et droits indirects to counter illicit trafficking, and (d) judicial corporation between the Attorney General’s Office and le Bureau du Procureur Général de la Réunion. These efforts are further supported under the EU funded Safe Seas Africa initiative, which enhances maritime domain awareness and inter-agency cooperation through the tripartite regional maritime intelligence sharing between the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) in Madagascar, the Regional Coordination Operations Centre (RCOC) in Seychelles, as well as the Operation Room of the National Coast Guard. Madam Speaker, following the State visit of President Emmanuel Macron, it was decided to enhance the cooperation between our two nations in the fight against transnational organised crime, in particular Narco Trafficking, in the Indian Ocean. The Police will also benefit from new capacity building opportunities through the Indian Ocean Academy.

34 These measures and new corporation avenues will significantly strengthen monitoring, improve enforcement capacity, and deter illicit maritime activities within our territorial waters.

Thank you. Yes, Mr Babajee.

Will the hon. Prime Minister enlighten the House regarding the place he mentioned – Les Salines lagoon, that land was leased to someone who is now jailed in Reunion Island and that the boat was kept in the same place for two days? Also, how come those officers did not know the boat was captured over there?

Yes, hon. Prime Minister.

It is a good question. I will have to ask the Commissioner of Police, but, in fact, they did not know. They were tipped-off about the boat being there.

It should be okay. Yes, the Fourth hon. Member for Rodrigues, Mr Edouard. MR L.R. & MS A.M.R. CIVIL MARRIAGE – VISA APPLICATION – REFUSAL