The renewed outbreak of drug abuse and illicit trafficking in recent years has brought about the need to develop a single, unified and strategic response to the drug problem in Mauritius. The government’s response, last Wednesday, was the launching by the minister of Social Security, Samioullah Lauthan, of the National Drug Control Master Plan for years 2004-2009. Benefiting from the financial and technical support of the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), the document summarises authoritatively national policies, defines priorities and allocates responsibilities on drug control efforts. A Rs 70 million budget has been allocated for the first year to reinforce the fight against drug trafficking.

Because of its geographical position, our island is used as a transit point between South Asia and Eastern Africa. The explanation pointed out by the document is the “excellent airline network (…), which strategically places Mauritius at an important air traffic hub.” One of the principal sectors whose job will be to further reduce drugs supply is the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO). Operating under the supervision of the Commissioner of Police, the PIO officers’ job is the screening of passengers at the airport and seaport. To enhance the control of containers at the seaport, the Mauritian government plans to acquire a container-scanner at an approximate cost of US$ 15 million to enable the rapid detection of drugs.

Several other official departments, such as the Forensic Science Laboratory, the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit and the Customs department will be reinforced - equipment and qualified staff - during the five coming years. Moreover, national sensitization campaigns, with the collaboration of the National Agency for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Substance Abuse (NATReSA) and other non-governmental organizations, will be organized.

<B>70% of offences are drug-related</B>

The aim is to create and promote a drug-free working environment through the reduction and prevention of substance abuse in the labour force and among youngsters. The NATReSA, points out the document, has recently set up its Medical and Research Unit, which is looking at a substitution therapy. In addition to that, the National Detoxification Centre should be operational by the end of the year. Its setting up will benefit from the financial support of the UNODC.

The figures of the Mauritius Police Force for the first six months of 2003 indicated that, out of 768 arrests for drug possession, 202 were related to cannabis possession while 537 concerned heroin possession. Other arrests concerned Brown sugar possession and trafficking. Brown sugar is an adulterated form of heroin, which appeared in Mauritius in 1982. Seven out of 10 prison inmates committed drug-related offences. Such ever-increasing figures enlighten the government’s urge to take action particularly when drug abuse victims are children.

The document indeed highlights that the age of initiation to drug has decreased to reach children of 11 to 13 years old. There have also been reports of inhalant abuse among youth from 8 to 14 years in 2002.

A periodical report of the Mauritius Epidemiology Network on Drug Use (MENDU) enables government and NGOs to be aware of the patterns and trends of drug abuse, mode of use as well as the demographic characteristics of abusers. This facilitates the planning and implementation of more appropriate activities to reach specific targeted groups. The launching of the Master Plan will hopefully enable the different stakeholders engaged against drug trafficking to better coordinate their actions and hence obtain better results.