NDEA Communique Three convicted of illegal drugs charges |10 December 2016

NDEA operations on Praslin, targeting the principal drug dealers there, have recorded another success with the conviction of Marc Dave D’Unienville, a 37-year-old unemployed man residing at Anse Possession.

D’Unienville was arrested by the NDEA (National Drugs Enforcement Agency) at his residence on July 29, 2016 in possession of 44 pieces of cannabis resin (hashish) with total net weight of 41.825 grammes. When charged in court on November 23, 2016, he pleaded guilty to the offence of possession with intent to traffic in a controlled drug, a newly created offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 2016.

The judge imposed a fine of R23,000 and sentenced him to six months imprisonment.

The sentence was however suspended for a period of 18 months. Should the accused commit any offence during this period he will be required to serve the sentence.

He is the second member of the D’Unienville family to be convicted under the Misuse of Drugs Act in recent times. On November 9, 2016 Eddy Tony D’Unienville, a 49-year-old unemployed man, was arrested at his residence on July 29, 2016. When arrested he was in possession of 43.785 grammes of hashish and 2.169 grammes of cannabis herbal materials. He was fined a total of R14,000 after pleading guilty on both counts.

Two other defendants were also convicted of illegal drugs charges on November 24, 2016. These included Kenneth Davis Belle, a 33-year-old carpenter residing at Au Cap. He was arrested at Anse Aux Pins on the October 29, 2015 in possession of 240.5 grammes of cannabis resin (hashish). He pleaded guilty to the offence of trafficking in a controlled drug and was fined R50,000. He was also sentenced to eight months imprisonment. The sentence was suspended for a period of two years.

On December 1, 2016 Christopher François Dugasse, a 33-year-old unemployed man of Les Mamelles, was also convicted for possession of illegal drugs. He was arrested at Les Mamelles on September 21, 2014, after being found in possession of 2.3 grammes of heroin and 1.6 grammes of cannabis herbal materials. He pleaded guilty in court to two counts of possession and was subsequently fined a total of R50,000. If he fails to pay the fine he will be required to serve a term of one year in prison. Dugasse also has a drug trafficking case still pending.