NDEA disrupts ‘lucrative’ drug trade |05 December 2013

The NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) has succeeded in interrupting a lucrative drug dealing market created by traffickers plying illegal drugs between Mahé and La Digue.
 
Following reports of this activity, the NDEA mounted an undercover operation at the inter island quay on the evening of November 29 and succeeded in apprehending a suspect as he was about to board the ferry en-route to La Digue.

The suspect was arrested and was found to have been carrying a trafficking amount of what is believed to be compressed cannabis herb with a realisable value on the market, of approximately SR25,000.

The NDEA is carrying out further investigations to try and establish the source of the drugs.

Increased NDEA activity on both Praslin and La Digue into the activities of marine based traffickers is believed to have resulted in a change of tack by them to bring the drugs by ferry.

The suspect arrested is a 30-year-old unemployed man with an address at North East Point.

The suspect is being kept in custody pending further investigation and preparation of possible criminal charges.
 
Meanwhile, two recent convictions in the Supreme Court highlight the continuing successes in bringing to justice those who continue to engage in trafficking illegal drugs.

On November 11, 2013 Gilly Khanny, a 30-year-old casual labourer from Beau Vallon, was convicted of trafficking 89 packets of cannabis weighing 32.5 grammes and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. He was arrested on October 22, 2011 during the course of an NDEA operation in the Castor Road area.

On November 28, 2013 Calvin Bradburn, a 33-year-old self-employed driver, was convicted in respect of the possession of 665 grammes of cannabis. He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
 
Bradburn was arrested on March 6, 2012 after the drugs were found in a bedroom of his house at Pointe Conan.